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

The purpose of the legislation is not to be any different. Given the jobseeker's benefit and allowance that currently exists for employed people, it was my initiative to bring this forward for self-employed people, probably because of my background. It certainly is not to make it any different or distinct; it is to make it exactly the same.

I will ask the Senator for a favour, and that is to withdraw her amendments. This is only because the information I have in front of me tells me that the legislation is mirrored, word for word, with the exception of the amount of time one needs to be unemployed, which is different in this Bill for an employed person. The language is supposed to be exactly the same. I do not have the original Bill with me so I cannot tell the Senator she is wrong and I will not do that. I would like to go and check. If the Senator would withdraw the amendments, I will talk to her tomorrow.