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Seanad
‹ An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

Enduring power of attorney reform

Summary

Senator McDowell says the enduring power of attorney system is overly complex and costly and calls for a debate on making it more accessible.

First, the issues raised by Senator Craughwell are important. The enduring power of attorney system that we have is very complex. Many solicitors do not want to become involved in it because of its complexity. What we have done, in good faith, collectively as a Legislature, to improve the lot of vulnerable people and to make provision for their own lack of capacity, is, in fact, an expensive and difficult process. We should have a debate on that subject.

Second, on Wednesday, I made reference to the RTÉ programme on protected disclosures. I said two things which I want to clarify. The first is that I mentioned the improper use of entertainment, including a brothel, in Italy. It happened in Switzerland, according to the protected disclosure of the individual concerned. The second is that I mentioned €500,000 of ammunition, when, in fact, it was approximately 500,000 rounds of ammunition. I mentioned a destruction cost, which, for some reason, Ireland paid for this defective ammunition in the region of €120,000. In fact, I think €160,000 was actually expended on it. I want to clarify those things because these are important matters. I do not want to leave loose threads on these important matters. I will not elaborate further at this stage, but I will have more to say about it at a later stage.

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