Maurice Hayes (Independent)

I support Senator Ormonde's request for a debate on Northern Ireland. It would be timely. Much has happened over the summer. It looks like events are moving in a reasonable direction and I hope we can have a debate and be brought up to date before too long.

I note the case of the social welfare applicant who is required to refund money paid in error. I had some experience of such cases as an ombudsman in another jurisdiction and I understood the position to be that money paid out as a result of a Department error could not be recovered and certainly should not be recovered. The Social Welfare Acts are so complex that people cannot be sure of the details. The money paid out over the years has no doubt been spent and it is entirely unreasonable to ask people to return it. I hope the Minister will take that view.