I would like to ask in regard to paragraph (10) the cost of this in 1982 and if provision has been made in the Estimates.
Social Welfare (No. 2) Bill, 1982: Committee and Final Stages.
Question proposed: "That section 1 stand part of the Bill."
It would be impossible to estimate the cost at this stage. Nothing was included in the Estimates originally because it was not envisaged initially. The previous Government were having some discussions in that regard, but in any event there is nothing in the Estimates. The cost would be negligible in global terms, because the number of instances would be very few. There is one case that will be referred to it and that will be a potential cost but after that I do not know of any instance because of the limited nature. The Senator can take it that it will be a very small cost.
I would like to make a short statement in relation to section 1. When the Bill was before the Dáil I accepted an Opposition proposal that any reference to the tribunal would only be after consideration of the case by both the deciding officer and an appeals officer. In section 1, page 2, line 14 of the Bill now before the Seanad the Opposition proposed that the word "and" be substituted for the word "or". Unfortunately, the grammar was overlooked because "has" should also have been changed to "have". It should read "a deciding officer and appeals officer have decided" and not "has decided". This is not a substantive change, simply being one of a verbal or formal nature. If the House is agreeable, I will ask the Cathaoirleach to arrange that the necessary verbal correction be made to the Bill pursuant to Standing Order No. 100 of the Seanad Standing Orders.
Is that agreed?
Yes.
I will do that.
On a point of order, would that then have to go back to the Dáil again?
No. The correction can be made at the direction of the Cathaoirleach of the Seanad because it is purely a grammatical error.
Question put and agreed to.
Sections 2 and 3 agreed to.
Title agreed to.
Bill reported without amendment, received for final consideration and passed.