Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 30 Jan 2002

Vol. 547 No. 1

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Appeals.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

846 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if new regulations have been introduced in social welfare appeals whereby the appellants must get the social welfare appeals officer's prior permission before being accompanied in an oral hearing by somebody other than a family member; if so, when this new regulation came in to being; his views on whether he is now interfering with rights of people in relation to their social welfare appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2043/02]

Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern)

The procedures governing the conduct of oral hearings are set out in the Social Welfare (Appeals) Regulations, 1998 and provide that an appellant may be accompanied at the hearing by any member of his or her family or, with the consent of the appeals officer, by any other person. Similar provision to the foregoing was contained in the Social Welfare (Appeals) Regulations, 1990 and in earlier instruments going back many years. The question of obtaining prior permission seldom arises and in practice no reasonable request would be refused. This provision has been a feature of the social welfare appeals process for many years and I am satisfied that the procedures which are in place afford all appellants the fullest opportunity to present their appeals.