Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his response. I acknowledge that the Minister is sincere in her endeavours in this area. The point of this matter on the Adjournment is that decisive action is required at the time of the issue of a death certificate. There needs to be very strict protocols so that as soon as a death certificate is issued, the Department of Social Protection is informed immediately and all sections are made aware of the deceased person's name, address and PPS, in order that no further correspondence be issued to the person.

I do not think anybody has a problem with correspondence that would issue within a week of somebody passing away, or even a month. However, it is understandable that people would be distressed to receive correspondence 11 years after somebody's death from a Department about an entitlement. I know that the Minister is not directly responsible for this, but there is a moral requirement on everybody, particularly those in Departments who issue correspondence, such as the Department of Social Protection, the Department of Justice and Equality and the Revenue Commissioners, to ensure that we are not writing to people who are deceased. I again thank the Minister of State for his reply and I know he is genuine about this and understands why I tabled this Adjournment matter.