Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I support all that Deputy Sherlock said. It is vitally important we ensure no room for manoeuvre exists for people who will look to exploit the system, or will look to not give some categories of workers their full entitlements, and that we work to avoid that. The points were well made. I welcome Deputy Ó Cathasaigh's amendments and commend him on them. I also commend the Minister on taking them on board. It shows that, sometimes, when we go back to the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel, more things are possible. That also includes the Seanad. It is to be hoped some of these points can be taken on board in that context.

I take the opportunity to put on record, and we are approaching a final vote shortly after this amendment, that our position is clear. We support the principle of auto-enrolment but we have serious concerns about the scope being given to private pension providers in this regard, rather than the National Pensions Reserve Fund. We tabled amendments on Committee Stage but, unfortunately, they were ruled out of order. We are considering how we might bring forward amendments for the next Stage in the Seanad that might be in order. Due to the challenges of the charge to the Exchequer that is somewhat difficult, but we will make every endeavour to bring those amendments. I hope the Minister will consider the point at that stage.

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