Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)

I move amendment No. 99:

In page 18, before section 32, to insert the following new section:

32.—The Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 is amended—

(a) in section 4, by—

(i) the substitution, in subsection (4), of "Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform" for "Minister for Finance",

(ii) the deletion, in paragraph (a) of that subsection, of "13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20(2)(d), 22, 23, 25(1)(d)", and

(iii) the insertion of the following subsection:

"(4A) The making of regulations under or for the purposes of section 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20(2)(d), 22, 23 or 25(1)(d) by the Minister shall be subject to the consent of the Minister for Finance given after consultation by the Minister for Finance with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.",

and

(b) in section 9, by the insertion of the following subsection:

"(12) The Minister for Finance shall, in relation to the performance by him or her of his or her functions under this section, consult from time to time with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.".

Paragraphs (ii) and (iii) of subsection (8) provide that in regard to certain matters making regulations will be subject to the sanction of the Minister for Finance following consultation with the Minister for public expenditure and reform. Is the Deputy interested in the matters to which it refers? It is related to subsections (2) and (3) of the parent Act, which is the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005. It provides that regulations will be made by the Minister for Finance. The amendment inserts a consultative role for me.

The section referred to is the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005. It concerns employment contributions; modified insurance; calculation of reckonable earnings; employment by more than one employer; payment of contributions and keeping of records; self-employment contributions and insured persons; regulations providing for determination of contributions payable; and regulations providing for the collection of self-employment contributions. In essence, it includes all the matters related to pay and the social insurance fund.

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