Coveney: Govt has to think carefully about sick pay move

The Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney has said the Government will have to think very seriously about any changes to sick pay, as it could be damaging to business.

The Social Protection Minister Joan Burton wants to share the cost of illness benefit between businesses and the State, as opposed to the current system where the taxpayer bears the whole cost.

The idea was mooted before the last Budget, but was put on the back burner.

Minister Coveney said many businesses would struggle to pay any sick pay bill.

He said: "Before we would agree to make any changes in this area, we would have to look at it very carefully, in terms of its impact on employment.

"That is why it wasn't introduced in the last Budget, even though some people were arguing strongly for it, including Joan Burton, but that is the way Government makes decisions."