Tony Kett (Fianna Fail)

I understand the argument being made by other Senators. We should not confuse the minimum wage that is given to people with disabilities who are in actual employment with the wage that is given to people with disabilities who are engaged in training. People in the latter group are also entitled to receive a limited amount of money under the disabled payment maintenance allowance scheme. If such people earn more than a specified amount of money, however, they will lose a portion of their allowance or the benefits which derive from it. Those who argue that people with disabilities are being taken for granted under the minimum wage system may not be aware that such people are in danger of the losing the moneys they receive under the disabled payment maintenance allowance scheme if they earn more than a certain amount.