Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I favour the report of the advisory committee. We have spoken in recent times of social dialogue in regard to the relationships between the Government and different groups. As the Deputy and I are aware, the numbers of people involved in self-employment, contracting and sub-contracting work and setting up their own companies, in particular younger people, has been on the increase for well over ten years as we move to a more entrepreneurial style model for many local Irish businesses. Therefore, the prospect of self-employed people getting cover for invalidity and partial capacity benefit for an extra 1.5 percentage points would be very good value. As has happened in other jurisdictions where benefits have been extended, that could be brought in over a period of time so as not to excessively impact in one year. However, it would mean that self-employed people and the organisations representing them would have to examine this.

The regrettable part is that self-employed people or business owners whose businesses are very profitable can pay for private income continuance plans, while those who are just starting out or who are just about keeping their heads above water cannot. The offer from the social insurance system is actually very valuable, a point that has been made by a number of Deputies from all sides of the House. Now that the economy is in recovery, I would welcome consideration of this by self-employed people and their representatives. If implemented, it would add very significantly to the cover available to self-employed people. At present, if somebody suffers a very serious illness, he or she is entitled to disability or invalidity payments on a means-tested basis. If the person pays an insurance contribution, there will be some cover. I welcome the Deputy's comments on the necessity of funding the contributions appropriately.

See this speech in context