John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister indicated that 312,000 people are registered as self-employed within the State. There is not just anecdotal evidence of bogus self-employment in the construction sector, it is also a feature in the information technology, IT, and media sectors. In January 2016, the then Ministers for Social Protection and Finance launched a joint consultation on the use of intermediary-type structures and self-employment arrangements. A public consultation process was initiated and a total of 23 submissions were made to it. Last month, I tabled a parliamentary question to the Minister and was informed that the two Departments are working on the issue and that the submissions are still being assessed. The public consultation took place 20 months ago. We need action. What is the status of the report and when will it be published? The issue is very serious. I will refer to other areas in a moment but I would first like the Minister to respond.

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