Garret Ahearn (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On staff returning to work, a previous speaker mentioned the PUP. It is welcome that there will not be a cliff edge but rather a gradual easing of supports. There has been a change even in the past two weeks. The number of people receiving the PUP in County Tipperary on 4 May was more than 18,000, whereas it has now decreased to 9,000. It has halved already and that is without the hospitality industry having yet reopened.

One issue I have come across with staff and management relates to when people will be returning to work in a normal work environment. Companies are eager to get people back to work but staff are not as eager to return. Businesses seek guidance and the guidance remains that working from home is preferable, but the issue of antigen testing is tied in with that. How can we encourage companies that might not be fully sure about antigen testing to use it or to see it as an option to get staff back to work? Obviously, there are differences of opinion on all sides and that applies to the workplace as well. Some companies will view antigen testing as very positive, while others will be unsure about it. How can the Government encourage companies that are unsure?