Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)

In fact, as few as 3% of unemployed persons would have a lower income were they to work. However, the report contains another figure that is of great concern. Some 42% of those in receipt of social welfare benefits, that is, 183,000 people, are long-term claimants. That group should be specifically examined to ascertain what could be done for them. Rather than considering the entire cohort out of work and claiming social welfare benefits, it must be broken down and categorised to ascertain how specific groups might be helped.

My concern is that members of the Joint Committee on Social Protection often have such discussions, but such discussions do not take place in this Chamber unless the Minister is present. While it is great to have such debates at the joint committee, one can fool oneself sometimes into thinking everyone knows about it. Consequently, some of these proposals and ideas must be thrashed out much more tightly. I, therefore, urge the Leader to bring the Minister into the House very soon. If €1 billion of a budget cut of €3.6 billion is being sought in this way, it is considerable.