Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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We make a point through the special investigation units, SIU, of tackling areas like street markets and street traders to check that control savings represent the value of prevented expenditure. We have done a huge number of "feet on the street" campaigns. That involves visiting industrial estates and calling to see that the people on the premises are registered for tax and insurance purposes. We do that on construction sites and at street fairs and markets. We also do it in general where, for instance, somebody's lifestyle and spending capacity seems to be entirely out of sync with somebody who is living on a social welfare payment. For an honest trader or businessperson, it is galling to be undercut by people who are engaging in fraud. That is not acceptable and if Deputy Daly can give us the names of any employees or employers affected by this, we will follow it up in a discreet manner. We receive a very significant number of tip-offs and contacts from members of the public. While some are misunderstandings, a significant number represent valuable information which is followed up by our SIU. The Taoiseach has met a number of staff from the SIU. He had a meeting with them last year in Government Buildings. He also had an opportunity to talk one-on-one with myself and with senior staff from the Department about the things that could be done to improve the Department's detection and elimination of fraud risk.