Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)

I take it from the Minister's reply that his officials attended a presentation on an information campaign organised by the Minister for Social Protection. However, I am inundated with correspondence from small employers who are hanging on by their fingertips and who are extremely worried about proposals emanating from the Department of Social Protection, whose Minister is saying there is a compelling case to increase employer's PRSI and load more of the sick pay bill onto the backs of employers. This is affecting their planning and business and it is creating an air of uncertainty. Does the Minister agree that, with the current levels of unemployment and emigration, the last kinds of solutions we need are proposals to add to the cost of employing somebody, in view of the fact that the average cost of employing somebody in Ireland is still approximately 20% higher than the average among the 27 EU member states. Does the Minister not agree that increased costs are the last solutions we need and that it would be better if this discussion were not ongoing?

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