Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We are talking about retrospectively changing what was the practice. I know well that the Deputy knows this. Self-employed people do not work three days on and two days off. They might work two hours on a Monday and four hours on a Friday, but it still means they are making the contribution for that week, month or year. Self-employed people make their contributions in 52-week blocks. They do not make contributions for ten weeks and then not work for 42 weeks. It is not as clear-cut as saying "Yes" or "No". We should have a look at it. I will have a look at it and come back to have a conversation with the Deputies again.

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