David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I echo what my colleague, Senator Quinn, has said. To reiterate the point I made on Second Stage, extending the waiting period from three to six days means that people will have to maintain a float, so to speak, to ensure they have a little protective padding in times of illness. The problem is that most of the people affected by this change will be in the lowest socioeconomic category and are living on such thin margins that they have the least possibility of being able to maintain that type of safety net. We heard this morning on the radio and in this House about people being forced to use loan sharks to make up payments of various types. The idea that somebody who is ill, and having been unable to save up the shortfall in illness benefit, would be forced to seek out a loan shark is very worrying. People in that situation are being very unjustly hit.

From the employer's point of view, it seems to be a case of the State attempting to transfer its own responsibility onto those who have created employment. Employers get nothing out of the situation at all because, unless their employees, they do not benefit from PRSI payments. It is very unfair.

Senator Quinn is a very successful businessman, with an international reputation, and somebody who has travelled around the country and has been successful in advising people on their businesses and so on. If he sees something wrong here, then it is time we sat up and took notice that it may have an effect on employment and on the welfare of small businesses. It is hitting vulnerable people in terms of their sickness benefit.