Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

The reason for this section is to provide for the recruitment of retired social welfare appeals officers to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. We debated this issue in the Dáil and there seemed to be some concern at the wording. I assure Senators that their concern that it might be possible for me to appoint my buddies is unfounded. It would be impossible for me to do that. The wording being used in the section is the exact same wording as that used with regard to the Minister appointing deciding officers or appeals officers within the Department. I assure Senators that this is something I am doing very reluctantly, but it is the lesser of two evils. We have had a huge increase in the number of social welfare appeals and I owe it to the people to try and reduce those appeals. The people who do this work must be very skilled in the law. It would not be possible, even if a Minister was so tempted, to appoint people who did not have the appropriate qualifications. The problem for me in terms of internal promotions is that it takes a long time to train appeals officers because they must have comprehensive knowledge of social welfare law before they are appointed. I understand the Senator's concern, but I do not think there is any grounds for it. The section has the same wording as that used for appointments of deciding officers.