Ms Mary Kennedy:

In fairness, the self-employed are covered for the longer-term benefits under the Class S contribution. We have to acknowledge that there is cover at the moment. They do not have access to short-term benefits and that was what we were examining. It has become a significant issue in recent times with the downturn in the economy.

The actuarial review analysed providing two additional schemes for the self-employed and the advisory group on tax and social welfare also produced a report. All that work was done in recognition of the difficulties we have in providing additional supports for the self-employed. As the Minister has said, we now need to take the findings of those two reports and examine where we can go in providing that additional cover. The advisory group on tax and social welfare report indicated that jobseeker's allowance covers the particular short-term need and therefore did not see the need to extend the cover for the self-employed to jobseeker's benefit. However, the report also had findings on the illness side and in particular on invalidity pension.

It is important to be clear that the group took the view that if there was a need to extend cover for invalidity pension and partial capacity benefit, we should consider extending cover to those areas. In that context, it is a case of what payment would be appropriate to provide the benefits. I recognise what the Deputy is saying-----