Mary Ann O'Brien (Independent)

As we all know from the front page of The Irish Times on Tuesday, employers will have to pay the first four weeks of their staff's sick pay under proposals drawn up by the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Burton, to shave €150 million off her budget. I am aware other Members have raised the matter on the Order of Business. However, I have heard very little to reassure employers that the Government is not going to follow through on this ill-thought out proposal which will do more harm than good to the economy.