Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have previously stated in this committee that I would like the Christmas bonus to be renamed. I tried to do it this year but because it is mentioned in so many plans etc. I could not do it. There is also a Christmas payment but because nobody gets paid on Christmas people are given a double payment the previous week. The Christmas bonus is not actually a bonus it is a payment that people need and rely on. We need to change the terminology because it irks people who do not get it. The people who do not receive it probably do not realise that the people who receive it do not get anything else other than it. I think we should change the language around it. I would also like to have certainty around it but that is a conversation that needs to be had with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, which I will do.

On the Chairman's question with regard to the Social Insurance Fund, I will have the details on the reason that €20 million was moved to the fund circulated to him because it is too difficult to explain.