Mr. Neil McDonnell:

I do not know why the Senator insists on putting words in my mouth, that is, the notion no one wants to pay is or her fair share. I have said that it is within the members' gift, as legislators, to decide what both levels of contribution should be by putting them up as high as they want. However, the cost of that is to make labour more expensive and in countries where labour becomes more expensive, the impact of that is seen on unemployment and recruitment rates, for example.

I would make the point that both employer and employee social insurance rates in Ireland are low but the employee rate of 4% is extraordinarily low.