Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We obviously do not expect the Minister to announce details of any proposed scheme on the floor of the House. I do not think the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, who is chairing the group, would thank him if he did. Are we working towards a deadline? Are there a specified number of meetings where a decision has to be arrived at? Will the Minister elaborate on the process that is left?

My two supplementary questions follow on from what Deputy Connolly said regarding the number of previous appeals that were heard. Will the Minister provide subsequent information in writing on the previous few years and a couple of years prior to the dissolution of that appeals board? This is to see whether we are working our way back to that capacity where we can deal with the appeals.

My second supplementary question relates to the composition of the appeals board. I understand that three different recruitment campaigns were run over nearly two years to try to populate that board. The most recent response to a parliamentary question I received indicated that five people had been appointed in the past 18- or 24-month period. Will the Minister confirm that the board is now fully staffed and actively engaging in as many cases as it can?

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