Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

The way to equalise those who are 24 and 25 is for one of them to do the education and training; they will both be on the same payment if that happens. The way to equalise the two brothers in the Senator's example is for the second brother to do the education and training so that both of them will be on the same payment. It is very easy for them to be equalised.

The group of people currently on the live register would have had an expectation and got used to a certain amount of money. They can be equalised downwards if they refuse to participate in education and training, having been reasonably asked to participate in it. Similarly, they can be equalised downwards if they refuse to take up a job having been asked to do so. They would all be equal in that case as they would all be on the lower payment.