Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I note that it is the Minister's intention to roll the PRSI and USC into one scheme.

How would that progress, and what impact would it have in terms of the various existing wage structures? I know the PRSI system is complex.

I salute the Minister for attempting to end the discriminatory way self-employed people were treated. I know that from first-hand experience as I was self-employed before I was elected to this House. They way they were treated was disgraceful. I always believed self-employed people had a legal case to make against the State and it was in my head to take it before I got elected here.

The Minister is due to bring a social welfare and pensions Bill to the House soon. Would he consider extending maternity benefit to those mothers whose babies are born prematurely? It is a simple measure that we discussed here previously ad nauseamby way of a motion. In an emotional contribution, Deputy Catherine Martin of the Green Party made a compelling argument in favour of the motion, for which I believe all the colleagues were present at the time. I understand it would only cost €5.4 million, which is not a lot of money when the Social Insurance Fund is on target and unemployment, thankfully, is falling. I ask the Minister to consider bringing that forward.

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