David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Yesterday there was a great deal of clap trap about the Title of the Bill. I am afraid that it will be repeated today. If we must vote on it, let us vote. It is regrettable because there are serious problems technically with the Bill, in particular in regard to section 13. I believe the claw back is highly dangerous. There is no discrimination between people who have received over-payment and people who are responsible for fraud. There is a possibility that people can be driven below the minimum wage, below poverty level as they will be able to take 15% from them. I want to discuss the claw back of 15% of the payment, not some clap trap about the Title of the Bill, which is a waste of time. We have an opportunity to do a little bit of good. We have no possibility of doing anything else. May I advise my colleagues in the Fianna Fáil Party - I hope they take legal advice on it - that I support them very strongly but they should take the strongest case, which I think is on amendment No. 4, which was ruled out of order. Draft orders pursuant to subsection 4 should be debated by the Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection prior to their finalisation. I demanded yesterday to know the cost.