Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I appreciate what the Deputy is saying. When the collapse happened we focused, and still do to a certain extent, on people who are unemployed because that is the imperative. I acknowledge what the Deputy is saying and as time goes by we should be able to deal with some of those people.

In the jobless households there is also an issue, which the Deputy would be familiar with. The key earner or the principal claimant may not be enthusiastic about working but may have a spouse or partner who is but who may not be able to work, although he or she would be precisely the person who would benefit. Knowing those kinds of household circumstances, I would like us to be more flexible so that one person at least could claim. It is technically complicated because sometimes that person has to switch over to being the principal claimant and sometimes the existing principal claimant might not be alright with that because the money is his or her money. The Deputy knows what I am talking about.