Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I do not know the actual financial circumstances of the individual involved here. Clearly, this is a matter we can have examined. I do not know whether Deputy Cowen or Deputy Daly have an up-to-date set of facts about Mr. Rochford's financial circumstances but, from what Deputy Halligan has said, first, he is entitled as a citizen to a deferral of his property tax, depending on his circumstances, and he would be entitled to have that examined. Second, as I can certify to the Deputy, there are very substantial numbers who receive jobseeker's benefit and jobseeker's allowance who were self-employed and might have lost their job, got work again and lost it again, as, unfortunately, happened to so many thousands during the course of the economic crisis. I would hate to think that a citizen of our country would be outside the gates of the Houses of Parliament in a situation where he is on hunger strike and where we cannot deal with the circumstances. We need to know what those circumstances are and I would be very happy to have them examined.

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