Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 322: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if legislation will be required to implement the commitment in the programme for Government to establish a commission on taxation and social welfare. [18284/11]

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 380: To ask the Minister for Social Protection in relation to the commitment in the programme for Government to establish a Tax and Social Welfare Commission to examine entitlements of self-employed and the elimination of disincentives to employment, if such a commission will be established; if so, when this will occur; the remit that will be given to such a commission; if specific priority will be given to ensuring that means by which self-employed people can be insured against unemployment and sickness are considered as per the programme for Government; the timeframe in which the commission will report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18887/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 322, 368 and 380 together.

Creating jobs and tackling poverty are two of the key challenges that we face. It is essential that our tax and social protection systems play their part in addressing these issues and ensure that work is worthwhile. To this end, I recently set up an Advisory Group on Tax and Social Welfare. The first meeting of the Group, which is chaired by Ita Mangan, Barrister, took place on 30 June. While the Programme for Government proposes to establish a commission on taxation and social welfare, it was considered that the term 'advisory group' better reflects the purpose and working methods of the group than the term 'commission'. Given that the Advisory Group is not a statutory body, no legislation was required to establish it.

The main rationale for setting up the group is to harness expert opinion and experience to address a number of specific issues around the operation and interaction of the tax and social protection systems. The Group will also be tasked with recommending cost-effective solutions as to how employment disincentives can be improved and better poverty outcomes achieved, particularly child poverty outcomes, and with identifying the specific practical institutional and administrative improvements to their operation. While the terms of reference include a number of specific issues, including social insurance cover for self-employed persons, the Group will initially prioritise the area of family and child income supports.

It is envisaged that the Group's work programme will be based, where possible, on producing modular reports on the priority areas identified above in line with a timetable agreed by myself, in consultation with the Ministers for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform. Where possible, the aim is to provide recommendations that can be acted upon in time for the annual budget/estimates and legislative cycle and to allow the Government to best address its commitments under the EU/IMF Programme of Financial Support.

In early 2012, the Group will put forward a programme of rolling reviews in order to address the remaining priority items.