James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the witnesses. I do not have a host of issues to raise but it is important to acknowledge that, since the outset of the pandemic, their Department has been under a heavier burden than most. Many people appreciate that work, as do I as a public representative. Suffice it to say, though, we have questions to ask. The gross expenditure from the Social Insurance Fund was in excess of €17.3 billion in 2020.

We will be looking at precarious circumstances in the year ahead thanks to Covid-19, which might have an impact on many employees across the country. Will Mr. McKeon guide us through the Department's work in trying to get ready financially for the challenges that we may have to overcome in the coming months? How is the Department planning to be in a position financially to deal with challenges that may arise from new variants and further lockdowns and restrictions? The cruel lesson we have learned over the past two or three months is that the Covid-19 pandemic is far from gone and we may face additional hurdles in the coming months.