Terry Brennan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I understand that. Many speakers have referred to retained firefighters. I campaigned myself on the matter on several occasions.

Since 1972, the social welfare system essentially has subsidised the State's cost of providing a nationwide part-time fire service. However, a legislative basis was never provided to support that position. I commend the Minister on bringing in that measure. I compliment the firefighters for their patience in waiting 40 years. I thought 35 years was a long time to wait for my Narrow Water bridge but there were others waiting longer for something they wanted. Well done to them for their patience. I want to acknowledge the service given by those men and women and the sacrifices they made. Many of them made the ultimate sacrifice in the course of their duties in the past 40 years.

The grave issue of fraud must be tackled with gusto. Fraud undermines confidence in the entire system and is unfair to genuine claimants and taxpayers alike.

The Minister is proposing to provide for the introduction of a condition for existing recipients of social welfare payments, which has been mentioned by other speakers. The person must satisfy the Department of his or her identity. How does the Minister propose to implement that, and how long will it take to complete that proposal? Will she put in place a time limit for current recipients to fulfil their obligations? What difficulties, if any, does the Minister envisage in implementing this scheme?

The Minister might comment on welfare tourism. Does it continue? Is it growing or has it decreased? What should we do to ensure it is obliterated forever more.

I congratulate and commend the Minister on her efforts and the changes she has introduced in her Ministry to date. I congratulate all her officials also. The Minister's heart and soul are in these changes, and I welcome what she is doing.