Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail)

I know, and I am not trying to confuse the issue. I know what disablement benefit is and it is different to the disability allowance. We are clear on that but there are fears that in future the Government will try to do what I describe. There were leaks in the run-up to the budget that the criteria for schemes such as disability allowance would be changed. That was speculated upon in the media and I thought it a regressive way of reforming the system. The British are now telling people who were previously told they could not work to begin working again. I accept that is a separate issue but I am worried that this issue will set a precedent. The 14% figure comes from the Department website and it seems those injuries are relatively serious. I am not sure that the comparison with other European countries is appropriate for those who pay into the benefit system. People pay their benefits with the expectation of getting paid back. This is not a gratuity from the Government but rather a system into which people pay as a social insurance. They are entitled to benefits as a result. We are not cutting the rate but rather the qualification criteria to avail of the benefit for which people have paid, which is regressive.