Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I always welcome others working with me. This legislation will have to go through pre-legislative scrutiny. It is the Government’s intention to publish legislation early in 2023 and then, to be truthful, we will be in the hands of the joint committee in terms of pre-legislative scrutiny. That pre-legislative scrutiny will be very important. Ministers often ask for it to be waived for good reasons but, on this occasion, I think pre-legislative scrutiny will be important to give voice and an opportunity for a number of these stakeholders to outline their views. We need to get this legislation right. I hope we can pass the legislation together in 2023 and I hope we can begin the process early in 2023, and that is my honest take on it.

Deputy Paul Murphy outlined a range of issues that clearly highlight the need for a national review. I do not think it is as easy as the stipend, although I accept there is a need to do more on the stipend. The breadth of the issues is quite significant. We have to get this right. I accept more needs to be done and we need a robust evidence base as to how to proceed. I would very much welcome the engagement of this House on the review.

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