Matt Shanahan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Pressing these amendments is creating a different logic, which is basically that the problem that has been identified is access to medical certificates. We are saying that for low-paid workers and those who do not have a GP card, ultimately, they have to pay, if they can see the GP on the day they are sick, by the way, which is a significant problem in itself. On Report Stage, the Minister of State will have an opportunity to consider something different and along the lines of what Deputy O'Reilly is proposing. However, I do not feel it is fair to ask employers to pay 100% or pay for the lack of some mechanism whereby people can get access to a sick certificate, if that is what is required. That is basically what we are saying in a roundabout way.