Mr. R?n?n Hession:

That is fine. It rounds the existing floor but Deputy Collins is right that it is not a substantive increase.

In terms of the impact on women and young people, we have done some analysis internally but it needs further work. We are tracking very carefully the impact on women and young people. Our initial review of the model against the 2019 cohort is that it does not have significant skewing either for or against women or for or against young people. I know there is a concern coming through in the submissions that the exclusion of part-timers may have that effect. Our initial analysis is not showing that, but we will meet some of the stakeholders in the time ahead and we will reach out to the INOU as well because I know these are issues that have come up in its submission as well.

In terms of the PRSI, what I am saying at this stage is that this is being done under a programme for Government commitment and the intention there is that it would apply to all classes of employer and employee. The Government recently published the actuarial review of the Social Insurance Fund showing the long-term future of the fund. The intention is to bring forward a more general PRSI roadmap in the coming months, separate from the strawman, to set out where the Government thinks we should go in terms of PRSI changes.

Deputy Collins also asked a few questions about the international picture. I will ask my colleague, Mr. Phelan, to come in on that. I know he has been working a lot with the OECD on it.