Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

I have to repeat the questions I asked the Minister, as he has not dealt with them. Has the Government abandoned its commitment to a self-financed social insurance fund through PRSI contributions, or is it seeking to allow it continue in the future? I appreciate the Green Paper has been published, but this issue must be dealt with in the immediate term, as we only have three years before the fund goes into deficit. What steps does the Minister intend to take to counter this impending deficit or is he simply going to wait until legislation following the Green Paper?

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