Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister for his response, in which he indicated some degree of latitude which he and his officials will examine. One has to see the miners who are suffering from this lung disease. While we can be technical about the issue - one obviously has to have medical expertise - the bottom line is that people like Charlie Hopkins and the others to whom I referred know the reason they have this condition and that it came about because they were underground for many years. Irrespective of the points being made, I hope that, given what the Minister outlined today, he will revert to us some time soon, clarify the situation and offer some monetary compensation to the miners who have been affected by black lung disease.