Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

We need to look at the backdrop to this. The Minister's predecessor, who is, in almost every regard, a thoroughly decent man, did something quite indecent, with the support of the House, in one of the budgets that was passed down in the convention centre. The Supreme Court struck down the statutory instruments as being far too restrictive. Basically, in order to comply with the parent Act, a person almost had to be missing a limb to qualify. It was far too restrictive. Instead of just passing a new statutory instrument and continuing the scheme, the then Minister changed the primary legislation to make that more restrictive and buried it in the detail of a vote on the budget. It was completely buried. I never heard it mentioned it in his speech or any other speech, yet it is now the law on which people are relying and it is what is precluding people from exercising their independence and mobility. The Minister, Deputy McGrath, was in the House when it was decided that the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation could be wound up overnight. At the time, he was on the Opposition benches while I was on the Government backbenches. It was a significant undertaking but it was done overnight because that is what was needed. Are we, as a Legislature, and he, as a Minister, saying this issue is not so urgent that it can be done before the end of the year? People have waited long enough.

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