Michael McCarthy (Labour)

I move amendment No. 3:

In page 5, before section 1, to insert the following new section:

"1.—The Minister shall within 6 months from after the passing of this Act prepare and lay before both Houses of the Oireachtas a report on continued anomalies affecting persons who were recipients of deserted wife's benefit.".

This issue was again raised on Committee Stage in the Dáil by Deputies Seán Ryan and Penrose. The Minister is clearly aware of it. Deputy Seán Ryan has been very insistent with regard to this amendment. He has indicated that only a small number of people are affected, and the case has been articulated quite well in the other House on the nature of the exact anomaly. The amendment proposes to deal with this, and I ask the Minister to deal with the anomalies where people could find themselves worse off as a result of changes made. Although the number of people affected is declining, I ask the Minister to keep the issue under constant review.