Denis Landy (Labour)

I thank the Minister for what I consider to be a positive response. I accept that self-employed people are allowed to apply for means-tested jobseeker's allowance. However, as the Minister is aware this is a cumbersome process that can take up to six or eight months and in the meantime people have nothing to live on. In the context of trying to kick-start the economy the Minister will be aware that for every job we can create, we take one person off the live register and save approximately €20,000 per person per year. Through county enterprise boards and the Leader programme etc. I have been involved in helping people to start up businesses. The main issue is the concern that if the business is not successful, then they have no fall back position and this is a deterrent for people to start a business. I call on the Minister to keep this issue live. I look forward to the response from the group she has set up and from the actuarial review as well. I hope we can revisit this in the coming months.