Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator. He is correct in saying his party colleague debated this issue at length. Unfortunately, I will probably give him an answer similar to what I gave to his colleague. I recognise that the information raises some concern. I want to make it absolutely clear that all claims for all three payments are already decided by a deciding officer and have been since the scheme was introduced. The deciding officer may seek the opinion of one of the Department's medical assessors, in which case in arriving at a decision they will consider that opinion with all the information supplied by the claimant. The claimant always had to provide information to the deciding officer. This section is not negative legislation. The legislation reflects very clearly what has been happening within the Department from the inception of the scheme. I cannot accept the amendment which has been debated by the Senator's party colleague here and also by his party colleague in the Dáil on Committee Stage. It is not putting a negative connotation on it, it is a reflection of what currently happens within the Department. I thank the Senator for raising the issue again.