Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I want to support everything that has been said by my colleagues and echo the words of Senator Norris on the transfer of functions and social responsibility in this area from the Department to employers, very many of whom are defined as self-employed. Given that they make PRSI contributions to the State, they cannot avail of any social welfare transactions when they become unemployed themselves. There is a question here of going after people in a targeted manner. Small businesses, which are already struggling out there at the moment, will face additional pressures as a result of this move, but more importantly the employees concerned will have to ensure that they have a float of at least one week's wages saved before they become ill. That is grossly unreasonable. The message from this move is that it is okay to become ill, but one must have a week's worth of wages saved before one does so, or else the State will not provide support. What happens when the employers are not in a financial position to make any form of payment to individuals who are becoming ill or injured? This is wholly unreasonable and it will affect many people in a very disproportionate way.

While there are instances where people may be able to support themselves or employers could provide the support - the example was given of the public sector or multinationals - the smaller employers will find this measure very painful. In the event they are not able to fulfil the perceived obligation under the measure, the individual employee will suffer. That is unreasonable and it is why Senator Mooney is opposing this section. Even at this late stage, I ask the Minister to take on board what has been said here. At a time when somebody is either injured or ill and is not able to support himself or herself, the State has an obligation.