SEANAD:A FINE Gael member was told her comments over sick pay echoed those of Republican US presidential contender Mitt Romney.

Catherine Noone had said she shared the concerns of fellow Senators over difficulties faced by small businesses. “We heard yesterday a very interesting presentation from various speakers on the issue of sick pay. I think the harsh reality – and it’s something that we as a Government need to look at – is that if you pay people to be absent they will be absent.”

Mary White (FF) compared Ms Noone’s views with those of Mr Romney on so-called freeloading Americans. Ms Noone, objecting to the intervention, said she did not need to be patronised.

Paschal Mooney (FF) said statistics contradicted Ms Noone’s claim. Economists had proved that, at the height of the Celtic Tiger, when unemployment benefits were at their highest, unemployment stood at only 4 per cent. “So it gives the lie to the view that people did not want to work because they could have gone on welfare. When there were jobs available they took them.”

Ms Noone complained she had been unable to make her point due to interruptions. Mr Mooney said he was referring to her “stark statement” about people being willing to avail of sick pay to absent themselves from work.

Meanwhile, Jillian van Turnhout (Ind) said she found objectionable a ministerial response to concerns over treatment of asylum seekers under the direct provision system. She said she would invite the relevant Minister to visit the centres and view the appalling treatment. Minister of State Fergus O’Dowd (FG), on behalf of the Minister for Justice, said it seemed unlikely there was widespread State-sponsored neglect of asylum seekers’ children’s needs.