Marie Moloney (Labour)

Are we putting percentages on our body parts? A person could lose a finger and be rated 25% disabled. A pianist who loses a finger and cannot play the piano could be rated at 50%. I do not think the percentages were set in respect of just losing the finger. It is about the extent of a person's injury and how it impedes the person from carrying out his or her job.

I can see where the Minister is coming from. We were paying out up to €16,000 in lump sums for a very small injury. She is just bringing things into line. If the disablement injury was rated at over 20%, the person would be offered a pension. I hope the Minister will not increase that percentage any more in the coming years. I agree that 15% is still a relatively small injury and will not be a huge disablement.