Brendan Ryan (Dublin North, Labour) | Oireachtas source

One thing I find, as does Deputy Butler, is slight frustration regarding employer organisations. The reason this debate has been held today and in recent years is because of demand from people who previously were self-employed but who find themselves out of work because of the recession. It has been suggested that they are getting nothing and that nothing is available for the self-employed. Ms Kennedy has indicated clearly there is, namely, the jobseeker's allowance means tested payment. However, it is strange for the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association, ISME, to respond to a demand for something on the part of the formerly self-employed by stating that cannot happen and I find it particularly frustrating.