Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Following on from that, as the membership has not yet been agreed and the Minister has to bring a memo to Cabinet, which I appreciate, given the timeframe in the programme for Government is she confident that the commission will be able to report by June next year? When does she envisage the first meeting of the commission's membership will take place? It is very important that she has a representative for employees on the commission, be it a trade union or similar representative. It is important that the voices of workers are heard.

I refer to the commitment in the programme for Government to change the name of jobseeker's allowance or benefit to an early retirement allowance or pension. We have to acknowledge that while that might look good, it is the same as the jobseeker's payment and is paid at the same rate. The Minister must acknowledge that for people who have worked since perhaps 15 years of age and have paid PRSI for 30, 40 or 50 years, it is an insult to give them €203 per week. The Minister must also acknowledge that is a hard pill to swallow for workers who have given and contributed so much in their working lives.

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