Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

At the risk of repeating myself, I am anxious to engage with anybody who would be able to provide a solution to this issue. In hindsight, one could ask whether there should have been any interim arrangement. Should we have just waited until the Bill was enacted? We did that in the full knowledge that this was always going to be a difficulty. Once the interim arrangement was opened, the people who went into it have to come out of it. Every Member would prefer not to see that happening.

Senator Paddy Burke made a pertinent point in his contribution. It is a pity it has taken so long to get this legislation through. Every day that passes, another person enters or leaves the interim arrangement or comes closer to 65.

As I said at the start, I do not order the House’s business. I would prefer to have seen this done faster but it is outside my control. I will have any interaction I can with anybody over the next three months in advance of the reports that the Minister will bring forward on foot of Deputy Cowen’s amendment. I will engage with the Attorney General's office to see what remedies, if any, are available.

We have looked at this in great detail and have listened to all the contributions made in both Houses. I do not want to build up false expectations for people who would have preferred if this had been dealt with a lot quicker.