Mr. R?n?n Hession:

I would not accept that. I can see the Deputy is asking the question on the basis of the language in the Green Paper. However, while there is an expectation of engagement, we are not saying a failure to engage will result in the loss of the payment. As with the lone parent payment and the jobseeker’s transition payment for the past ten years, the language in question is used as the basis for more deliberate, proactive, structured, meaningful engagement with people on what is available to them and what they can do. That is the intention rather than saying to people that since they have ignored the options given to them on having been contacted, the next step is an escalation that will affect their payment. To be clear, that is not what we are saying. I can appreciate that people reading the text of the Green Paper cold could have this concern, and that is why the Minister has effectively overridden it with alternative interpretations to make clear that people will not have their payment reduced.