Paul Murphy demands end to test cases in bogus self-employment
Paul Murphy raised the issue of bogus self-employment, arguing it deprives many workers of rights and costs the state up to a billion euros a year in lost tax revenue. He said the Social Welfare Appeals Office has been using test cases to determine employment status and called for a government admission and an end to the practice.
Allegations about test cases
He said the use of test cases by the Social Welfare Appeals Office has facilitated abuse and that there is no legal basis for categorising employment status purely by occupation. He cited media reports that a musician and an RTE worker refused to attend appeals with the Social Welfare Appeals Office and intend to take their cases to the circuit court.
Scale and consequences
Murphy warned that bogus self-employment leaves workers without their rights and can cost the state up to a billion euros a year in lost tax revenue, undermining worker protections and public finances.
Government response and demands
He challenged denials from the minister about the use of test cases and demanded an admission and a commitment to end the practice. He pressed for concrete action rather than continued denials.
New review group and next steps
A work group was set up by the Tánaiste in recent weeks to examine the whole area of self-employment. Murphy said the group brings together members of the LEAF group, that he chairs it, that it held its first meeting two weeks ago and that it will review the issue and bring four recommendations through the LEAF to the department and the Tánaiste with potential changes to follow.
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I want to raise the issue of bogus self-employment, which leaves many workers without their rights and costs the state up to a billion euros a year in terms of lost tax revenue. The use of test cases to determine the employment status of large groups of workers by the Social Welfare Appeals Office has facilitated this abuse. There is no legal basis for categorising employment status purely based on occupation. We are now reaching the end of the line for the denials by Minister Humphreys that test cases are being used by the Social Welfare Appeals Office. It is reported in the Irish Examiner today that a musician has refused to attend his appeal with the Social Welfare Appeals Office on the basis that they use test cases. Instead, he will take a case to the circuit court. It is similarly reported an RTE worker will do likewise. Can we now have an admission by the Government and Minister Humphreys that test cases have been used by the Social Welfare Appeals Office? And can we have a commitment to end the use of test cases? Thank you Deputy Minister. A new work group was set up by the Tallness in the last few weeks in relation to looking at the whole area of self-implight. It brings together all the members of the LEAF group and we have had our first speech in two weeks ago as I chair that as well. They are reviewing all this and will bring four recommendations through the LEAF to the Department of Teaching and Tallness as well. And then we can make some changes and I thought of that if need be. Thank you. Thank you.
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