Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister of State. I know he is responding on behalf of the Minister for Social Protection and that his Department has responsibility for employment but I am not sure what planet the Minister for Social Protection is living on if she believes that a preliminary analysis based on estimates of absenteeism in the private sector indicates that if a sick pay scheme with a duration of four weeks were to be introduced it would add about €1 per week per employee to the costs of employment. That is off the wall and does not seem to make any sense. If, for example, a small shop owner in west Donegal or Cavan has three employees and one of them is, through no fault of his or her own, off sick for three weeks, how will charging the employees an additional €1 a week over the year cover the costs of that sick leave? Who has the Minister consulted on this? She has not consulted the chambers of commerce or the business sector. I urge the Minister of State, whom I respect, and his senior Minister, Deputy Richard Bruton, to do their utmost at Cabinet level not to accept the arguments being put forward. There are other ways of dealing with this issue. When something is not broken, an attempt should not be made to fix it. The current scheme works and protects employers and employees. Transferring the burden will ensure we drive another wedge between those who create jobs and provide services in the economy. This is wrong and I hope that in the lead up to the budget, the Minister of State will do his utmost to fight against these proposals.