Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I have raised the issue with the Minister for Social Production and as the Deputy is aware, a working group is engaged on the issue. The work in this regard is quite extensive and is being carried out in a structured fashion. Given the financial aid programme in which the State finds itself, consideration obviously must be given for that and therefore a defined structure must be gone through. I accept absolutely the Deputy's points in respect of the self-employed. All Members deal with these issues in their constituency clinics and there is an issue that must be dealt with, although it must be done in a proper way. The issue raised by the Deputy regarding voluntary entry into a system must be prioritised in these considerations and I will relay this point back to the Minister.

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