Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The debate up to now has been very reasoned. I would like to congratulate my Labour Party colleagues on bringing forward the motion. In response to the point made that it has taken us four and half years to get the motion on the table, anybody could have tabled the motion. Therefore, the Labour Party must be congratulated on doing so.

The Labour Party has tabled a Seanad Private Members' motion which seeks a review of the State Claims Agency, SCA, with a view to the introduction of a more user-friendly, prompt and no-fault system of settlement and compensation. I am happy to inform Senators that, following discussions between the Minister for Finance and the chief executive of the National Treasury Management Agency, the Government has agreed that there will be a review of the State Claims Agency and how claims are handled.