Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

Ós rud é gurb í seo mo chéad uair ag caint sa Dáil, ba mhaith liom i dtús báire an deis a thapú mo bhuíochas a ghabháil le pobal Chuan Bhaile Átha Cliath Thuaidh a chur anseo mé. Oibreoidh mé go crua mar ghlór ar son na fírinne agus ar son cearta sóisialta. Ba mhaith liom freisin thar ceann an phobail buíochas ó chroí a ghabháil leis an iar-Theachta, Tommy Broughan, a chaith na blianta fada ag troid ar son leas an phobail.

I commend all the healthcare staff, everyone in the HSE, all the public health officials and our front-line staff on the work they are doing. In times of crisis, it is often those who are marginalised or vulnerable who bear the brunt of the impact. Without swift action in this instance, that is what will happen. We need action to protect people who are homeless or living in overcrowded housing, those who are in precarious work and individuals with underlying health conditions in order that they will not be hit hardest. Workers with temporary contracts or near-zero hour contracts and those in the service industry are particularly at risk. Due to changes in demand in the services industry, many already face reduced hours and income before any additional threat might arise for them.

I attended the launch of a report by the Think-tank for Action on Social Change, TASC, on household debt yesterday. One of the findings of the research is that those who rent privately are four times more likely than homeowners to face not being able to afford to heat their home. Many low-paid workers already struggle to make ends meet and, therefore, any reduction in income will put them in an impossible position. They cannot be left in a situation where they will potentially be out of work, have their hours reduced or have to self-isolate, without their income being protected. It is very important that we move as quickly as possible to guarantee income protection, especially for low-paid workers, given that people are in different circumstances in more permanent working arrangements. That is not just important for people on low pay but also for wider society, for which there may be a health consequence. Research in the US has found that in those states that have introduced mandatory sick pay conditions, flu risk decreased by 11% in the first year. If the conditions are not created whereby people on low pay can take the responsible action they want to take, namely, to protect their health and that of their families, it will have a wider health and societal impact. This vital move needs to happen fast.

Our healthcare system has half the capacity of intensive care beds compared with the European average, although it is welcome that steps are being taken to try to increase it. We must do everything we can to increase capacity in private healthcare to supplement the capacity available in the public healthcare system.

I turn to the issue of people living in overcrowded accommodation. We all know from our constituencies that it can be common for three generations to live in one house or for an entire family to share one bedroom. Such people will also be in a more vulnerable position and we need to examine what additional measures can be put in place to support those living in emergency accommodation or direct provision and homeless people.

We need to act now to protect workers on low pay or zero-hour or temporary contracts and those working in the so-called gig economy. We need to act now to co-opt what increased capacity we can in the private healthcare system, which will need to be drawn on.

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