John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 49:

In page 61, line 14, to delete “may” and substitute “shall, with the assent of Dáil Éireann,”.

The Bill has been hailed as a no-change Bill and we are aware that much work has been done on the convention on social security. Credit is due to the many people involved in ensuring the convention was agreed. What is the status of the convention at this point? Various processes are in place in this State and in Britain. The Minister referred to a 21-day period in which the British Government would engage in a consultation process before the convention would be signed.

My second question relates to the fuel allowance and the winter fuel payment. That is an issue I have raised previously. We are not sure about the changes involved to such payments because there is no reference to them in correspondence or the legislation. I have sought clarity on the issue a number of times from the Minister. For example, I sent her a letter last week seeking clarity on what will happen. There is much fear about the fuel allowance and the winter fuel payment. Currently, more than 31,565 people living in this State receive the winter fuel payment from Britain. The number of recipients of the payment has been increasing annually. In 2011, there were just 6,810 people in receipt of the payment. Will the Minister provide clarity because there has been complete radio silence by her on this?

I have asked her on a number of occasions now for clarity on it, so can we just get that clarity first and foremost?

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