Ms Eilis Barry:

There are a few issues there. The intention at the outset was to provide a vital payment across the board to all sectors. This was welcome. We have concerns about the prohibition of redundancy claims and the newly introduced requirement to genuinely seek work. We have been contacted by people who may be entitled to very significant redundancy lump sums which they cannot claim. In effect, that constitutes the loss of a very significant right. That is why we wanted to be consulted on the Social Welfare (Covid-19) (Amendment) Act 2020, as well as on the obligation to be actively seeking work and its interaction with the prohibition of redundancy claims.