Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)

Of course I will but I am talking about value for money and how the pension fund is being raided. I will debate the issue with the Acting Chairman any time and on any radio station. We must be very careful about the pension fund, which was hard-earned and is there for the rainy day. It should not be whittled away and repaid over the next 20 years.

We must look again at the cut to lone parents and I support the Seven is too Young! campaign. I compliment the Minister on the JobBridge scheme and I thank her for meeting representatives of Muintir na Tíre on Friday. There is much scope to support community groups through unemployed people who want to give their time to such organisations. We are only talking about €50 extra per week but these people want to give of their time and use the valuable knowledge they have gained through degrees and diplomas. It is a good scheme that must be expanded.

There should be caution exercised on the sick pay issue with regard to private employers. Such people are fading like the snow from the ditch in winter and we must support and reinvigorate their efforts. We cannot be too harsh on them, as we are at present. I am referring not to this Department in particular but to several others; for example, a transport Bill was introduced in the Seanad today with another punitive set of measures dreamed up by a former Minister, Noel Dempsey, in his prime. That Bill should be shredded because business owners will not be able to afford new punitive taxes and levies on lorries. Road hauliers provide valuable employment but they are on their knees. Agricultural contractors are struggling and banks are removing their overdrafts so they cannot get the credit to run their operations. These people may have temporary employees for summer work, like the tourist industry, and they will not be able to afford the sick pay scheme. I am not arguing that sick people should not be looked after but we cannot go from cover for two or three days to cover for four weeks. It is not possible.

The Chairman is looking at me intently so my time must be nearly up.

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