Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

That is what the Department is saying, whether I am saying it or not. That is what happened to tens of thousands who received letters of refusal. A lot of people were incredibly taken aback. This is designed as a hardship alleviation scheme rather than a compensation scheme.

9 o’clock

That language has been used by the Minister. Why then are so many people being forced to go through the rigmarole of providing receipts and documentary evidence to get what turns out in most cases to be a very small payment? He has got this wrong. I appeal to him to ensure these people receive a payment and some acknowledgement for the hardship they have gone through.

See this speech in context