Ms Jackie Harrington:

Okay. I thank the Chair and will answer the questions in the order he raised them.

As for part-time workers, he will notice from the heads of the Bill that they have been developed in such a way that we can introduce them for part-time workers, as required and as approved by the Government. The heads are flexible, in that we can apply that measure going forward.

As for the options for people who are fully unemployed and are on the PRB initially, they would have the option to go back to existing jobseeker's benefit for days of part-time employment or, as we develop this scheme and because that flexibility is built into pay-related benefit, the intention would be to provide for pay-related benefit over time.

The option would be there, quite possibly at the initial stage, for jobseeker's benefit. A person will not be left without benefits should they take up part-time employment.

The governing contribution year, GCY, to which we referred, is two years prior to the contributions and is covered in head 7 of our general scheme. The first requirement is that you must have 104 contributions. That already exists for jobseeker's benefit. You must have at least two years' PRSI before you can qualify for jobseeker's benefit. That has not changed. That is the minimum requirement. Once you pass that test we will then look to see if, before you were made unemployed, you worked for six of the previous 12 months before the date you were made unemployed, and that you have four contribution weeks in the previous ten weeks from when you make your claim. If you make your claim today, we would check that you have four contributions back ten weeks, and check the date you were made unemployed. Sometimes people may not apply for a couple of weeks or one month. It may not be the highest thing on their agenda. However, back from the date of unemployment you must have six months unemployment. It is a recent attachment we are looking for in that context.