Jim D'Arcy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The point is being made regarding equality. I did not get an answer this morning from the Department of Social Protection as to why PAYE workers would pay a total of 14.75%, made up of rates of 10.75% and 4%, with self-employed people having to pay a rate of 17.3% and not even getting the same benefits. If this has an actuarial basis, we must consider both sectors and formulate one true figure rather than two. The principle of entitlement should be considered first.