Nicky McFadden (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Social Protection when the recommendations of the Advisory Group on Tax and Social Welfare in relation to extending social insurance cover to the self employed may be expected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37160/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Creating jobs and tackling poverty are two of the key challenges that Ireland now faces and it is essential that our tax and social protection systems play their part in addressing these issues. To this end, last year I established an Advisory Group on Tax and Social Welfare with the aim of harnessing expert opinion and experience to examine a number of specific issues. These include making cost-effective proposals for improving employment incentives and achieving better poverty outcomes, particularly child poverty outcomes. Among the issues provided for under the Advisory Group’s Terms of Reference is for the Group to examine and report on the issues involved in providing social insurance cover for self-employed persons.

The Group’s overall method of working is based on producing modular reports on the priority areas identified in the Terms of Reference. 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. The Group has been considering the issue of social insurance coverage for the self-employed and will submit its report once its examination of the various questions has been completed. Decisions on the publication of the Group’s reports will be made subsequently at the appropriate time.