Marie Moloney (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I would like to say "well said" to Senator Quinn.

I join Patricia King of SIPTU in welcoming the publication of the report of the Labour Court's review of joint labour committees. I am delighted that the Minister has accepted the report's recommendations and is putting in place the legal steps necessary for their implementation, as this will offer protection to low-paid workers.

I wish to highlight an error in the Comptroller and Auditor General's report on overpayments by the Department of Social Protection. The report said that 7% of the overall budget is accounted for by overpayments, but this is incorrect. He has corrected it now. The correct figure is less than 0.5% - 0.47%, to be exact. It is irresponsible of the Department of Social Protection not to take responsibility for errors that are made by officials in the Department. I will mention such a case. A young man who should have been receiving a jobseeker's allowance payment of €100 per week because he was under the age of 25 was given the full amount of €188 for a number of years. It is absolutely incredible that he has now been asked to pay back the additional amount from his current €100 payment. The mistake was made by officials in the Department after all the information was presented to them. I could understand the applicant being asked to pay the money back if he had withheld information or failed to submit all the documentation required. I believe the Department of Social Protection should take responsibility for the error, given that it was entirely responsible for it, and waive those overpayments. Perhaps the Leader will ask the Minister for Social Protection to come to the House to discuss this issue, which is causing financial difficulties for people who are trying to repay overpayments.