Ms Eilis Barry:

We were dissatisfied with how the changes to the eligibility criteria for the pandemic unemployment payment were achieved. As we set out in our submission, the page on thewww.gov.ie website that dealt with the payment was changed. It would appear that an attempt was made to change the eligibility criteria simply by changing them on the website. We have set out our concerns around the legality of the changes that were being introduced and also the fact that when people were applying for the pandemic unemployment payment, there was no indication that they needed to be actively seeking work or that penalties would be imposed if they availed of holidays. In that regard, we had concerns.