Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)

Every proposal needs to be examined carefully. Evidence suggests that small employers manage absence through illness extremely well and that the highest rate of sick leave is in the public sector. We need to look across the board at this issue. The Minister for Social Protection is undoubtedly correct that there has been considerable growth in long-term dependence on welfare owing to sickness. We need to examine the causes. This is the background to this debate. There is no doubt the Deputy's concern, namely, that there will be a disproportionate impact on small business, needs to be examined. The truth is that most small businesses do not have sick pay schemes of the sort operated by larger employers in the public service. There are serious issues to be examined, including the impact on the cost of employment. There is serious concern about the extent of dependence on long-term sickness welfare schemes, and we need to examine ways in which to reduce this.

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