Ray Butler (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I know I have been hounding the Minister for the past 18 months to two years on the issue of the self-employed and that a report has been compiled, although I am unsure whether it has been finalised. Self-employed persons pay the S class stamp at the rate of 4%. Such businesses may not be doing as well as they were during the Celtic tiger era and there has been a slowing down in the domestic economy. I have a self-employment background and know that a self-employed person pays income tax when in profit and if he or she is merely breaking even and making drawings, he or she pays tax on these drawings. I would prefer to put 1.5% into a stamp payment which would entitle me, as a self-employed person, to illness and disability benefit. I see all sides of the argument, but this would be the first time in the history of the State that self-employed persons would be recognised in the social protection system. If this is not possible now, I ask when can it be done because it is very important. The Minister has been excellent in her attitude to the self-employed and has held up the banner very well. She has lowered the bar in order that self-employed persons can get help during a business crash when they have nothing and have to care for young families and have mortgages to pay. However, I await the report in order that we can take it from there.