Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

They receive security of tenure on a four year basis. At the end of that four years, they will start again. Each four year period is a cycle in itself. One does not have any rights at the end of the four years. That is the balance. If we mature as a society and do something better in five or ten years' time, then so be it. Right now, one has no property rights at the end of the four year period, but regains them from four to eight years. It then ends again. No matter how long someone is there, they do not retain property rights.

I hope I have answered the main questions on this issue. I thank the Senators for their general comments and will try to tease out other issues next week on Committee Stage.