Marie Sherlock (Labour)
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I thank the Chair.

I direct my questions to Dr. Bambrick of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, ICTU, this time. I was glad the interaction between Senator Ahearn and Dr. Bambrick on clarifying who is entitled to a medical card and GP card took place. It was really useful. Officials from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment made a number of comments two weeks ago that were not reflective of the reality on the ground with regard to the working age population and their entitlement to medical cards. I thank Dr. Bambrick for providing the detail on who does and does not qualify and on the number who have an entitlement or have qualified for the GP card.

In her submission, Dr. Bambrick mades a number of very important points on who the legislation would apply to in terms of the definition or the relevant benchmark legislation. The definition of "employee" and the comments on self-certification were very important points. I ask about the minimum service period because she raised that concern as well. There are certainly those who have a break in their employment in a particular year. When the Labour Party put forward its Bill on sick pay last September, there was a provision for a four-week minimum service period. Dr. Bambrick made the point that effectively a period of 13 weeks is too long. What does congress propose the minimum service period should be? What is it recommending?