Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Five minutes is not much time to ask the witnesses questions and get their responses. The Reboot & Reimagine plan and the SME Recovery Plan both estimate that a bailout of €15 billion will be required. How confident are Mr. McCoy and Mr. McDonnell of the accuracy of that figure? Is it their own estimate or have they engaged with the Department of Finance and the Revenue Commissioners to come up with it?

Mr. McDonnell suggested that there is no reason to treat aviation fuels differently from other transportation fuels in terms of carbon taxes. I ask him to expand on that. Would he support a carbon or other environmental tax in that regard? He suggested that we should further rationalise our local authority network. Will he expand on what he means by that? He proposed that any charity funding not linked to essential service provision should be cut. Will he identify the charities to which he is referring in that regard? He suggested that Covid supports need to continue until there is approximately 80% employment. Judging by how we are going at the moment, when will 80% employment be achieved? How did he come to that figure?

Mr. McDonnell outlined the missteps relating to the pandemic unemployment payment and the temporary work scheme, so I will not put a question to him on that matter.

Mr. McCoy referred to a more extensive social dialogue model, better engagement with unions and employers, social progress indicators and quality of life, which are far more than purely economic indicators of how we are doing. I totally agree with him on that and I think it is definitely something we have to pursue. He refers to better childcare, a circular economy and deep retrofitting. I agree with him on all of those measures as well. Is the €25 billion in extra investment for the national development plan to which he referred to go towards those projects that would create long-term sustainable jobs and projects that are decarbonising in their nature?

It has been stated that 20% of those made unemployed by the crisis are under 25 years of age. It is an imperative that we get young people back working. While I understand that Mr. McCoy's view would be to get them back working, what are his suggestions in that regard? In a radio interview yesterday, he stated that there may be a potential shortage of workers in certain sectors. To what sectors was he referring and what are the implications of that? There are quite a few questions there so I will see if Mr. McCoy can get through them. I may have one or two more.