Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I have a simple question to which I know the answer but I would like the Minister to put it on the record. Deputy Shortall referred to unemployed people who were self-employed. There was a bit of confusion, in particular when the recession began, that these people could not apply for the jobseeker's allowance. Will the Minister confirm that once they provide evidence of all their means, they will be entitled to jobseeker's allowance? A number of people who were self-employed went to social welfare offices only to be told that because they were self-employed, they could not apply for jobseeker's allowance. Will the Minister put on the record the position in regard to self-employed people applying for jobseeker's allowance?

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