New commission to discuss social welfare changes

A new "commission on welfare" is set to be unveiled by the Government.

Social Protection Minister Joan Burton has asked Barrister Ita Mangan to chair the body, which will examine the welfare system and make recommendations.

Unemployment payments and child benefit are among the areas set to be examined.

"One of the things that we will be looking at is the whole area of families and the issue of how we support children," said Minister Burton.

"The second will be this issue of whether or not people who are self-employed should also have a structure where they can pay some kind of insurance premium to provide for social insurance against unemployment."