Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Hession and Ms Leonard for their assistance to the committee. I understand exactly where Mr. Hession is coming from with his comment regarding pensioners. I have teased this out at length with the Minister and her predecessor. It is difficult to tell older people to go for a supplementary welfare allowance when some of them will still recall the community welfare officer as the relieving officer. He can imagine that unless they are in a desperate situation those people will not make contact with the community welfare officer under any circumstances. That is a cultural mindset that exists and the Department needs to be conscious of that in regard to that cohort. I will leave that with the witnesses.

I thank both witnesses for their very comprehensive contribution this morning, their agreement to come back with further information and their assistance in providing the briefing material to the committee. It has been very useful to the committee members and will help us in our continued deliberations on the pandemic unemployment payment scheme. I thank both witnesses for their time today. The joint committee will adjourn until Monday, 30 November at 10 a.m. when the committee will meet in private session on the Microsoft Teams platform.