Emer Currie (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In section 7, we were discussing the understandable reasons employees would want 100% pay cover, as well as the understandable burden on small employers who are already very concerned about having to pay 70% of the statutory sick pay in addition to the replacement cover. This was brought to my attention by the Local Jobs Alliance that consists of small, local and family-run businesses, including the Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association, the Retail Grocery Dairy and Allied Trades Association, RGDATA, Irish Small and Medium Enterprises, ISME, the Vintners Federation of Ireland, the Licensed Vintners Association, and the Restaurants Association of Ireland.

One can understand how we keep coming back to the point about getting the balance right. The Local Jobs Alliance suggested the idea of a rebate. I am aware reference has been made in the Bill to an employer's inability to pay, but employers are talking about situations in which they could provide documentary evidence that an extra employee was paid for during the period of sick leave in order to ensure that there is no interruption to business activities. They make the point that any rebate could be viewed as an allocation of the employer PRSI and not an additional cost to the Exchequer. I am aware we are on Committee Stage, but is that something the Department and the Minister of State would consider and potentially bring forward on Report Stage?