Mark Wall (Kildare South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

There is an expectation out there, as the Minister indicated. Those who have applied are waiting on the results of the O'Meara case. I am dealing with a number of people whose partners passed away before January 2024. The Minister mentioned not building up expectations. Is the Department considering making a payment to those people? Will the Minister give a commitment today that he will consider a payment for them? In my question, I asked that he consider issuing a supplementary payment. Given we are only talking about 331 applications, it is important that nobody is left behind. Following the judgment in the case taken by the O'Meara family there was an expectation that these people would qualify for a payment. The previous committee on social protection discussed at length a retrospective payment for those families who have gone through grief, as the Minister and others mentioned. Will the Minister consider a payment for those who do not qualify or even a supplementary payment for those whose partners passed away pre-January 2024?

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