Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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I apologise for my absence at the start of the presentation. Having read what was circulated to members, hopefully the witnesses have covered all that. I acknowledge the change in attitude in respect of the taxi drivers.

I have not had a complaint since the last session we had on this issue. The point Deputy Bannon has raised is interesting as a PSV licence is an asset for taxi drivers, as is their car and other things. In the case of agricultural assets such as farm machinery, a realistic approach should be looked at. Rather than force somebody to sell something that might be useful in the near future, a charge could be put against it in order that in the event of the person selling it, the Department can recoup from it. Most people will not sell it in this day and age but at least there should be a charge so that there is a State interest. Perhaps that issue could be examined.

In terms of the social protection payments, the average contribution rate is 17.3%. Not every self-employed person wants to have anything to do with these entitlements. Some have already made their own arrangements for employment protection, health insurance and pension fund. We should look at an opt-in facility. Perhaps there is a threshold whereby a certain number is needed to opt in. This means that a person who is self-employed would have the option that rather than pay the 4%, he or she may be willing to pay 17.5%. Perhaps that is the way to go, particularly for small shopkeepers who are self-employed or may have one or two employees and especially in this day and age when small retail businesses are affected. That might be a practical suggestion. I understand the concern that the State could not take on board all the self-employed at present unless there was a substantial increase in their PRSI contributions to cover themselves. However, we need to find some way to cover them. A friend of mine had a shop and due to ill health for two years where he was suffering from cancer, from which he survived, he had to sell his shop. Over the next six years, having survived on his savings, he had to reduce them until he had nothing left. He had not made provision for health insurance or employment protection. He ended up with €20,000 before he could qualify for jobseeker's allowance. He is now well enough to return to work but he cannot do so because he has no business, having been forced to sell at the time. That is the pity. The issue concerning his income is a juggle, whereby if somebody has an asset they should survive on it. It was a harrowing experience for him. At one stage he needed to reduce his savings by €1 in order to qualify and it would not be looked at again for a number of weeks.