Unemployed people in Ireland who refuse to engage with social welfare employment services will see their Jobseeker’s Benefit cut by €90 under a plan quietly signed off by the Irish government after the Budget, reports The Irish Independent. In one of her last acts as Social Protection Minister, Heather Humphreys doubled the fine imposed on unemployed people in receipt of jobseeker payments who do not engage with her department.

The previous reduction imposed on people who did not engage with social welfare services on two occasions was €44, but Humphreys doubled the penalty to €90 in the Social Welfare Bill, which passed through the Dáil (lower house).

Taoiseach (prime minister) Simon Harris said it is “common sense” that there are penalties for those on jobseekers allowance who do not engage in employment services. He added that people needed to “play ball”. The legislation will be debated in the Seanad (Irish senate) today.