Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

To conclude on section 3, various people have expressed concern that those who are to come within the scope of PRSI will not have PRSI entitlements extended to them. I am in favour of extending PRSI to all incomes, provided the benefits of the social insurance system are also extended.

Section 4 deals with illness benefit. As I indicated yesterday, illness and injury benefits are being cut by means of the provision doubling the number of days that must elapse before the benefits are paid. This is a major change in the PRSI system and is, as I noted yesterday, the equivalent of a cut of €112.80. The consequences of this change will be suffered by employees in some cases and employers in others. The measure is a retrograde step as people cannot afford to cover the additional costs they will incur.

Illness and injury benefits were introduced to ensure those who suffered illness or injury received some type of support to enable them to continue to pay their mortgages and household utility bills, which can increase significantly. By extending the period that must elapse before these benefits kick in, the Minister appears to expect that most people will set aside one week's wages to cover their additional costs should they fall ill or become injured. People are experiencing financial crises and are in dire straits. I urge the Minister to withdraw sections 4 and 7, which deal with illness and injury benefits, respectively.

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