Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

I do not propose to accept the amendment. PRSI issues had to be looked at in the round in the context of the budget.

There is a commitment in the programme for Government envisaging abolishing the PRSI ceiling and reducing the PRSI rate. Both were predicated on there being an average growth rate of 4.5%, which has not happened. For various reasons, particularly from the point of view of the Department of Finance, it was decided not to lift the ceiling or to reduce the PRSI rates this year, given the current economic circumstances.

Deputy Shortall asked about the pension strategy. She will be aware that the last event in that regard was the publication of the findings of the consultation. We are currently in discussions with the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Finance on future strategy and it is not possible at this stage to give a clear outline in that regard.

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