Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

The important issue is that it will not have any implications for workers or anyone benefiting from claims made under the social insurance fund. When a deficit arises in the fund, as it inevitably will, the fund will be subvented by the Exchequer. Sufficient money will, therefore, be available to make pension and other payments which are currently paid from the fund. This year, the Department's budget is more than €21 billion. While I hope demand for jobseeker's allowance and other benefits will decrease next year, the Exchequer will top up the social insurance fund when it becomes necessary.

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