Brendan Ryan (Labour)

I move amendment No. 6:

In page 9, subsection (2), line 22, after "benefit" to insert "or assistance".

When I tabled amendment No. 5, I thought I was simply being fussy, but I now realise I was actually raising a serious issue. It seems it is intended that the repayment to certain people of the money that was stolen from them by the State will affect them. I have proposed amendments Nos. 6 and 7 for similar reasons. I would like to amend the reference to "a person's entitlement, or level of entitlement, to a health or social welfare benefit (including any subvention to be applied towards any such benefit)". I am concerned because there is a distinction between "benefit" and "assistance". I sincerely hope I am mistaken in suspecting it is intended that the receipt of a repayment will be considered when assessing people's means and, therefore, will affect the payment of moneys to such people for the purpose of any form of social assistance, such as the non-contributory old age pension, which is a form of social assistance, supplementary welfare allowance or unemployment assistance.

When I saw the word "benefit" in the Bill, I hoped it was not what I thought it was. My amendment will specifically include the words "or assistance" to clarify the matter. I am gratified by the fact that the amendment has not been ruled out of order, because that means it has been accepted that I am not providing for the possibility of imposing an extra charge on the Exchequer. Perhaps that means I have to accept that the term "benefit" must include "assistance". However, I will await the Minister of State's remarks.