Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The Bill itself imposes a charge on the Exchequer because it allows the universal social charge to be deductible when assessing family income supplement. While the Government is ruling out a charge in respect of the amendment, it is imposing one itself in the Bill. The legislation is introducing a cut to jobseeker's assistance through the back door by not allowing the universal social charge to be deducted in the means testing for the payments. It may result, for example, in a cut of approximately €12 per week for families in receipt of jobseeker's assistance. The cut is carefully hidden. There is no explicit mention of it in the main provisions of the Bill. The Bill spells out clearly that the universal social charge, USC, is deductible when means testing for family income supplement but what it does not state is that it is not deductible in other cases. That is in spite of the decision made by the former Minister earlier this year to allow for the deduction of the USC.

Those on this side of the House cannot amend the Bill in this way as it is seen to be a charge on the State but the Government has introduced the Bill and there is a charge on certain individuals and certain families. How are they to redress what amounts to a possible cut of €12 for families on jobseeker's allowance? I ask the Minister to comment on the issue. Will she bring forward such an amendment if we cannot?

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