Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the efforts made to date and pay tribute to the staff of the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection who are working on the ground. Year after year, we recognise at budget time that without the payments made by the Department and the significant work done by its staff on the ground, this country would be even more unequal. I welcome the Covid-19 payment, the wages subsidy and the extension of time in respect of the fuel allowance. However, we must take into account the context. Deputy Cowen referred to the stark live register figures that were published today. We have gone from having 4.85% unemployment - almost full employment - to an unemployment rate of 17%. Indeed, figures provided by the Government indicate that 800,000 people will avail of the Covid-19 pandemic unemployment payment or the wage subsidy scheme. That exposes the situation on the ground. As I have repeatedly stated in the House in recent weeks, I hope we now see what is possible and that we never go back. Perhaps now, more than ever, is the time to look at a basic income for everybody based on needs on the ground. We have shown what can be done in a few weeks. Let us see what we can do for the future because there is no going back to the unequal society we had.

I refer to anomalies that have arisen, some of which have been mentioned by my colleagues. The issue relating to persons aged more than 66 was raised and I will not belabour the point. Deputies are receiving constant representations on this issue. It seems somewhat hypocritical that we are appealing to our older people to do the right thing but they are being excluded from the scheme which is supposed to support everybody.

In regard to persons on reduced hours, I understand that if a person is on a three-day week, they may apply for the welfare payment. However, that works out at €40 per day, whereas the Covid-19 payment is €70 per day. Those workers are getting less than they ought to be.

Deputy Pringle was anxious for me to mention the North-South issue, but I will not belabour the point as it was already raised.

On the 30,000 people who have been refused the Covid-19 payment, approximately 15,000 were refused because they gave the wrong information but the other 15,000 were simply refused for one reason or another. There is no appeal mechanism. I understand from reading the notes that no appeal is allowed because it is an emergency. I ask the Minister to look at that because, obviously, mistakes are made when things are rushed.

On nurses, other Members have pointed out that there is no assistance for student nurses.

On redundancy, I was here when the legislation passed last week and it applies to a specific time. Representations have been made to me on behalf of a person who was made redundant on 13 March, before those provisions came into effect. The person is unemployed and cannot get work. He or she is caught in no-man's land and cannot avail of mortgage relief from the banks. I wish to draw the attention of the Minister to that point.

Rent supplement is now administered by local authorities rather than by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. It is subject to ongoing reviews in respect of what constitutes a reasonable rent, whereas the housing assistance payment, HAP, which is also administered by local authorities, is not subject to review.

I understand no review has been done on that since 2016. While the social welfare system was doing a good job in keeping the rent supplement under the review, that is not happening.

I refer to the comments of the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Madigan, that we should be ashamed of ourselves for taking her and other people out of their homes. I will make no apology. I find her comments embarrassing. They fail to grasp the necessity of democratic institutions functioning. We heard the unprecedented comments from the Chief Justice today on the importance of democratic institutions functioning as best they can, however restricted, in a time of emergency. We have passed two draconian Bills, mixed up with some good stuff. There is a need for the Dáil to sit. I hope the Ceann Comhairle will use his leadership skills to facilitate that in whatever way necessary in an open and public forum.

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