Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 December 2012
314. Deputy Ray Butler asked the Minister for Social Protection when the Advisory Group on Taxation and Social Welfare will be bringing its report to her in view of recent calls by self-employed groups (details supplied) for reform of the PRSI system to give full cover to the self-employed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54134/12]
View answerCreating 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, I established an Advisory Group on Tax and Social Welfare last year 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 in order to establish whether or not such cover is technically feasible and financially sustainable.
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. Among the issues that the Group is currently considering is social insurance coverage for the self-employed. The Group will submit its report on this issue 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.
