Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Many of these different matters must be figured out. It is not straightforward. We must also take into account that at the moment we give the self-employed all these benefits for a contribution of 4%. An employee pays 4% and his or her employer pays 10.75% on his or her behalf for these benefits. Therefore, for every self-employed person earning €100, the Social Insurance Fund gets €4; for every employee earning €100, the Social Insurance Fund gets €14. This needs to be borne in mind as well.

Regarding Deputy O'Dea's question, I do not agree with the findings of the report. We should put something in place regarding jobseeker's benefit. It may well be on the basis he himself proposed, that is, that it be on a voluntary basis with an additional contribution to do so. That might be the way to do it. I am meeting the dentists again on Saturday. I have scheduled another meeting with the opticians. Negotiations are going well. I still hope and expect to meet the deadline.

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