Nicky McFadden (Fine Gael)

With regard to jobseeker's benefit, I am concerned that we are creating a welfare state. We are almost encouraging people to be on long-term unemployment benefit. The idea that a person with large mortgage repayments, car loans or credit card bills — having paid PRSI, which is insurance against unemployment — is not entitled to benefit is something with which I am not happy. I ask the Minister to reconsider this. Like Senator Bradford, I am not happy with her response.