Ray Butler (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State. We will end discussion on budget 2019 on a happy note. Seven and a half years ago I came into this building as a self-employed person. I had seen what the crash had done in 2010 and 2011. While out canvassing, I had met many self-employed whose businesses had gone during the crash. I remember one particular time in Kildalkey in County Meath. I was canvassing this man and he brought me into his front room, which was his office. He showed me all his VAT returns, tax returns, and PRSI documentation. When he looked for something after his business went, he was entitled to nothing. He brought me down to his yard where he showed me a machine that was rotting away. He had made payments totalling €100,000 on it but he could not lodge it in the bank or send his kids down to eat it. I personally saw how self-employed people were treated during the crash. I was one of those self-employed people. I lost my business. When I needed help, I was entitled to nothing. It was so sad to see the frustration of that man in Kildalkey, who was not even able to pay his mortgage or put food on the kitchen table for his kids. It is very sad to say that we lost many self-employed people because many self-employed people went into dark places during the crash. They went down to fields and sheds and never came back because they were very proud men and women. We should also remember them today because this is a very good day for self-employed people.

When I was first elected, we met Department officials and they said that a stamp could not be put in place. They said it would cost 30% of a self-employed person's wage to put any stamp in place. We have come a long way. Today we hear the Minister say that we are to bring in a new stamp in 2019 that will entitle self-employed people to jobseeker’s payments. I give credit to Fianna Fáil for putting this in the programme for Government and I thank everyone around the House. We had a motion in this House, Members from all parties spoke passionately about this issue and we pushed it on. It is fantastic to see that we have recognised self-employed people through social protection for the first time ever in this country. I am talking about a stamp that should have been put in place 30 or 40 years ago. I am thankful that we have now got the message and a start has been made. I would like to see, if at all possible, sick pay also being brought on board next year.According to the online comments and from listening to self-employed people, they are very happy about today's budget. I thank everybody involved. It is a good day for the self-employed.