Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for highlighting that point. No legal advice is required and no former resident needs to hire a solicitor to access the scheme. Certain companies are advertising it. It is not necessary. When the scheme opens, there will be an extensive public information campaign. We will let people know when it is open and how to apply. Assistance and advice will be available for people through the office set up to give advice to people on how to apply.

Regarding the other points the Deputy raised, I hope we will have a clear and final conclusion to the negotiations in the first half of next year. I am engaging with Ms Nunan and getting updates on how the negotiations are going. However, in agreement with her, my sense is that it is best not to drip-feed pieces of information out. There will be a conclusion and a report, which will be brought to the Government. The Government will make a final determination about whether what is being offered is acceptable. As I said before, if it is not acceptable, the Government will have to consider its options.

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