Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

While I do not doubt the effort that has been made to bring forward the legislation, it is disappointing to hear that we have no commitment from the Minister that it will be passed prior to the summer recess in order that it might benefit another tranche of people in September.

In that light, will the Minister agree to waive the requirement for pre-legislative scrutiny by the relevant committee? Such an approach might fast-track the legislation. There was an expectation, based on the Minister's announcement, which we welcomed in December, that this would be forthcoming and that the legislation would be brought before the House and passed before the summer. I implore the Minister, in the absence of a commitment, to agree to waive the requirement for pre-legislation scrutiny which would otherwise be necessary.

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