Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

I hope the Minister will be in contact with the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation because there is potential, based on the figures, to recoup up to €2 billion in payments. That is a quick estimate based on the amount of claims disposed of. There were 200 claims in the past year for which figures are available. In the period between the claim being registered and the outcome I presume most of those people depended in some way on a social welfare payment. It is a loss to the State. Employees benefit from the protection of the State but employers benefit from it also and in some cases when awards are made they have to pay back wages. I hope the Minister will pursue this matter.

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