As there were no amendments on Report Stage we now move to the Fifth Stage.
Social Welfare (Consolidation) Bill, 1980: Fifth Stage.
I move: "That the Bill do now pass."
I should like to raise a few matters on the Bill. I understand that under Standing Orders I am not entitled to raise matters of detail. However, in relation to section 197 I recall that the Minister gave us an indication that he would consider introducing an amendment in relation to the definition of the unmarried mother's allowance. He has not done that and I should like to have his final view on it.
It is important to appreciate that this Bill was prepared by the previous Government, that it was ready to be put through when an unfortunate event occurred in June 1977. Because of the pressure of time under which the Committee were asked to work and the further abridgement of time today, it is appropriate to note that three years passed since the change of Government and the then Minister for Social Welfare did not do anything whatsoever about the Bill. Perhaps he was consolidating other matters during that time.
The Bill consolidates in 312 sections matters dealing with many aspects of social welfare legislation going back many years and it would have been a considerable dereliction of duty on the part of the Government if the Bill, which largely had been finalised by the last Government, had not been put through the Oireachtas. From that point of view, in the context of the delay of three years, a couple of things should be mentioned. I was Chairman of the Committee and this is the only Bill dealt with by that Committee. It proves the value of the committee system because if we had been dealing with the Bill in this House it would have taken us three or four months to do the work the Committee did in such a short time. I want to put that on record and to suggest to those concerned with the reform of the parliamentary system that the value of the committee system should not be lost sight of.
Deputies Cluskey and Callanan rose.
I have called on Deputy Cluskey.
I welcome the conclusion of this legislation. It was difficult to understand why such a non-controversial Bill was neglected for so long by the then Minister for Social Welfare, the present Taoiseach. When I introduced the Bill to the House it was welcomed by all sides and as far as I recall the present Taoiseach welcomed it on behalf of the then Opposition.
In so far as this is consolidating legislation, it may not appear to the public to be very important and I do not imagine that there will be a rush to procure a copy of the Bill. However, the Bill will be of considerable benefit to the public because it will help immeasurably the officials within the Department of Social Welfare and other Government officials dealing with relevant aspects of social welfare legislation and it will also be of very considerable help to social workers and others dealing with their numerous fellow citizens who are deprived and in poverty.
I should like to put on record my sincere appreciation of the staff of the Department of Social Welfare. This complex legislation was prepared very quickly indeed when one considers the volume of work involved and I could not fully express my appreciation of the way in which that work was tackled by the staff. I can only say I regret that the same sense of urgency and commitment shown by the staff towards those who are dependent on social welfare was not imitated by the Minister for Social Welfare who took office immediately after Fianna Fáil's return to Government.
As a member of the committee I should like to add my voice to that of the Minister in congratulating the chairman of the committee on the way he carried out his task. The Bill was non-controversial and it was our job to consolidate legislation, not to change it, and this was pointed out very definitely by the chairman. Occassionally we were inclined to ramble and to discuss various points of interest but he kept us to our task. Going through the Bill section by section was rather tedious.
I am somewhat disappointed that the Minister did not consider changing the rather objectionable descriptions which apply to some benefits. I refer, for instance, to the unmarried mother's allowance and to deserted wife's benefits. Some more generous and sympathetic terms should be found and the Minister might consider some more kindly terminology.
The Deputy is aware that the Committee could not change anything in the Acts.
I know that and I mention this as a small criticism.
I have read through the reports of the Committee and I endorse Deputy Callanan's view that Deputy O'Keeffe did a very good job. We must all recognise that there was as well an openness on the part of the Minister. It augurs well for referring such pieces of legislation to Committees of the House and perhaps more use will be made of Committees in the future.
I should like to congratulate Deputy Harte on his new appointment as spokesman on Social Welfare and I thank him for welcoming the Bill. It will certainly make easier his task and that of anyone dealing with the code. He raised the matter of the delay. Anyone who worked on the Committee will recognise that it was a mammoth task and it was only by total concentration that it was completed in time. Even at that it came very close to the Christmas Recess and I was very grateful that the Committee were prepared to facilitate me by concluding business immediately before Christmas. This meant that the legislation could be completed before the budget.
I should point out that my immediate predecessor introduced the pay-related social insurance scheme which had very major effects on legislation and administration. This delayed the progress of the Bill and some 250 amendments had to be fitted in because of changes which had taken place.
The chairman raised the question of the unmarried mother and Deputy Harte raised the matter of definitions generally. It should be pointed out that the social welfare books used in those cases are social welfare allowance books and in order to avoid embarrassment the particular type of allowance is not defined.
As in the case of other Deputies, the Minister should not debate those matters.
The work has been completed within the time-scale and I have thanked all concerned for their co-operation. I recognise that the Bill will be of great benefit to Deputies and to social and community workers who are assisting beneficiaries under the various schemes. Once again, I thank the chairman and the Committee.
Question put and agreed to.