Regarding the proposed social welfare legislation which will arise following the budget, letters that have gone out from the Department of Social Protection regarding the water charges contain a clause asking people to authorise that all future payments due from the Department of Social Protection be paid directly to a financial institution, thereby bypassing the An Post network. I encourage the Taoiseach, ask him and demand that he withdraw this clause and ensure any legislation coming before the House-----

What legislation is the Deputy asking about?

The social welfare Bill. I ask that the clause be excluded from the legislation and any future legislation.

In all these cases the choice is the person's.

No, the person has no choice.

We cannot debate the issue.

If the Deputy gives me a copy of it I will examine it. I am informed by the Minister for Social Protection that when people are asked whether they want their allowances paid into a post office or a bank account, the vast majority nominate a bank account.

There is no choice.