Pearse Doherty (Sinn Fein)

The Minister should acknowledge she has not repeated the answer to every question I have asked. It is disingenuous for her to say that.

The Minister acknowledged the mid-term PRSI deficit next year will be astronomical and it is likely to increase with the increasing number of people on the live register, as forecast by the Government in the budget. The Government has already said there is a €4 billion deficit that must be bridged next year. The country will still be borrowing to pay the running costs of the State. We will not be in a completely different environment in 12 months. Can I get a clear indication of why we are to reinstate this scheme?

I am arguing we should not get rid of the scheme in the first place. If we are doing it now because we do not have the money, we will not have the money next year either. The PRSI deficit has already been outlined. It will not be any better next year with so many people unemployed. Will the Minister acknowledge that and give a clear answer to that point?