Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On this occasion, I must disagree with the Senator because there is no difference between determining whether somebody is employed or self-employed and determining their classification from a social insurance perspective. It is not a separate matter. It is exactly the same thing. With respect, the WRC has no experience in classifying and we already have a section. There are 200 social welfare inspectors who are trained and who have been carrying out this business for years. While I agree that they need to get stuff on a statutory footing and definitions defined in law, I do not see why we would need to create a second separate organisation that does exactly the same thing as the organisation we already have. What I am adamant about is that the anti-penalisation measures need to be inspected, adjudicated and ruled upon by the WRC. When I bring those anti-victimisation measures forward in the social welfare Bill in the spring, that is where they will go.