Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

To be fair, the Deputy has acknowledged the significant move in including illness benefit in the Christmas bonus. That was on top of a whole range of additional payments that have been made since the summer and since autumn began, right through to Christmas with the cost-of-living package. Of course, once we make additional moves the call is to go further again and further again. It is all within a very substantial envelope of more than €11 billion. It is, however, an issue we will keep under review. The Deputy has suggested that people on illness benefit from more than 12 months could be considered. I will revert back to the Minister on this but I think we have made a lot of progress so far.

See this speech in context