Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

Perhaps such people have stamps and PRSI contributions that qualify them for benefit. That would exempt them from the provisions of this legislation for nine months or so. What about those who do not have sufficient contributions, however? Somebody who is in a job today on a reasonable salary will not be drawing any payment in respect of this category. If such a person loses his or her job next week, he or she might not have sufficient PRSI contributions to make him or her eligible for benefit. There are people in that category. Not everybody has been working permanently for several years. Not everybody has been in a position to ensure they have made the required contributions in the years concerned. If such a person loses his or her job after next Thursday, he or she might have to rely on a means-tested payment. If that person has a child aged 12 or 13, he or she will lose this payment even though he or she would have received it up to now. Such people will not be eligible for it in the future.

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