Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

Senator Fidelma Healy Eames tabled a similar amendment in regard to the report. I am not willing to accept this amendment. I am anxious that the President sign the Bill into law tomorrow or on Thursday and that it come into effect on 1 or 2 July. It is important this should happen. As I stated, I will be closely monitoring the outcome of the changes introduced in the Bill. In respect of the PRSI reduction, there is a sunset clause of the end of 2013. If it appears that employers have not been utilising this provision or, as the Senator suggested, that in some cases it is being used by them as an excuse to introduce large-scale wage reductions, notwithstanding the fact that they will also be obliged by law to restore €1 per hour to the minimum wage, I will discuss with my colleague, the Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael Noonan, whether it should be continued. It is part of an economic stimulus. If the economy recovers, the level of stimulus required via taxation and PRSI measures will have reduced. Obviously, the PRSI structure is important in providing funds to meet all of the extensive demands on the social welfare budget, including pensions, jobseekers' benefit and so on. I will undertake to keep the measures under review and report to the Seanad in due course on how they have proceeded. However, I am not willing to accept the amendment.