Feargal Quinn (Independent)

When I heard sometime ago that unemployment benefit was to be called jobseeker's allowance, I thought it made a great deal of sense that taxpayers' money should be paid to those seeking jobs. However, I was astounded to discover the number who had come to Ireland and who had returned home but were still claiming jobseeker's allowance and child benefit in Ireland. The figures given were substantial — €15 million a year in one case and €20 million a year for child benefit payments. I had not heard of the term previously, but people talk about welfare tourism. I am not sure what is included in European regulations, but that Irish taxpayers' money is being used to pay such sums at a time where we are cutting back on other essential services deserves to be investigated. If these figures are correct — I am not sure that they are — it suggests there is a step that could be taken and I would like to see it being taken as soon as possible because it does not make sense to continue such an operation that is clearly not in the interests of Irish citizens.