Ned O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail)

I support Senator Sheahan's call for a debate on the suggestion that the first four weeks of sick pay should be met by employers, rather than by the Department of Social Protection, which is the statusquo. It is an outrageous suggestion. Last week, I spoke in the Chamber about the problems facing small businesses which are trying to retain their staff and this idea appears to be a double whammy. Surely the idea behind employers paying employer's PRSI is to ensure that when an employee becomes ill, those payments will be used to cover his or her illness. It is enough for an employer to be obliged to source an alternative or to change rosters, one often loses money both ways, without allowing this outrageous proposal to come down the line.

As for the student protests, I remember distinctly the student protests that took place almost this time last year. It was highly confrontational and I had to smile when I heard Senator Healy Eames talk about not being confrontational, because she was beating a big drum that day. I remember that well, as do my colleagues on the other side of the Chamber. In fairness to the outgoing Government, it was heavily defeated in the general election but Fianna Fáil went into that election without giving any hostages to fortune or making any false promises. I note two members of the Government parties already have gone overboard, namely, Deputy Naughten and now the former Minister of State, Deputy Penrose. It bodes ill for the long-term future of the Government if its members already are panicking in the face of what must come down the line. While my party took a beating, it took it on the chin.

What the Minister, Deputy Quinn has done is the most cynical action I have witnessed in my five years in this House.