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

I do not propose to accept the amendments because they relate to section 68J, which provides for activation measures to the new scheme of jobseeker’s benefit for the self-employed when a person refuses to engage. I advise Senator Higgins the language is precisely the same in the old legislation as in the new legislation and it has to apply to both the jobseeker’s allowance and benefit schemes as they form an integral part of our activation process. There is no difference between the language used.

The section includes the prescribed courses and training opportunities that are available to develop somebody’s education or development needs and that is appropriate to only their individual circumstances. It does provide for - because it must - a penalty rate when a person does not avail of the opportunities that are suggested to him or her without a good reason for not availing of them, and we all have good reasons.

I take on board Senator Devine’s point. Of course, we must have legislation that assumes everybody acts in the best interests of themselves and others and the State must act in the best interests of the people it serves, but the reality is there are some people who do not and, therefore, the penalty clauses need to be included in case of instances where people do not want to avail of the opportunities without having a good reason to do so.

The legislation also includes provisions that courses must be appropriate to the development of and the needs of the person. This ensures only reasonable opportunities can be considered and has regard to each individual person’s personal circumstances. We believe they are straightforward and reasonable, and the most important thing I can say to the Members today is that they are and must be consistent with the existing jobseeker’s benefit and allowance schemes.