Vol. 518 No. 5
9 Mr. Quinn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when she proposes to make ex gratia payments to former workers at the Irish Hospitals Sweepstake as promised in a Review of the Action Programme for the Millennium; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11972/00]
15 Ms McManus asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress, if any, made with regard to the pro posed ex gratia payments to the former workers of the Irish Hospitals Sweepstake; when payments will be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9914/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 15 together.
Following recent consideration of the matter by the Government, my Department is working with the other relevant Departments to prepare a memorandum for Government setting out in detail how such a payment can be effected. I hope to bring this to Government for approval in May.
I welcome the fact the Minister will bring the memorandum to Government in May. I remind her that she told me that on 23 March. On 15 June 1999 she told me she would discuss it with the Taoiseach. However, I will not look a gift horse in the mouth. I presume the Minister means that the workers concerned can expect to receive an ex gratia payment as a result of the likely Cabinet decision.
The review of the programme for Government contained a commitment to do this. A few weeks ago I brought proposals to the Cabinet and following that discussion we will proceed with drafting a memorandum. The Deputy can take it they will and should receive a payment. It will be an ex gratia payment so it does not establish a precedent, which is always a concern in our system of public administration. This small vulnerable group of people got a raw deal.
A number of former pensioners have died since this controversy started. Will their relatives, who had to help them and who may be out of pocket, receive any benefit from this ex gratia payment or will it only be paid to those who are still alive?
The proposal I suggested to the Cabinet was that we would provide for the payment of lump sums, that we would appoint a committee to oversee the applications for and the making of such payments and that we would make payments to personal representatives of deceased persons.
I welcome that and I appreciate the Minister must be prudent about administering the matter. However, I ask her to take into account – I do not want anyone to misunderstand this – the fact that the people concerned are now aged between 65 and 77. It is a matter of urgency that it is dealt with speedily.
