Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

There is a string of emails and letters requesting engagement.

I want to return to the Minister's point regarding Debenhams. I welcome what he said but I wish to bring a similar case to the House's attention. There is a cohort of people in a small local transport company in Clare, and just as the restrictions were introduced, its contract for Local Link services was dropped by the National Transport Authority. We all agree that private companies should not use this situation as a cloak to break bad news and do draconian things to staff members. That is one thing, but it is particularly loathsome for a State body such as the National Transport Authority to use this as cover for bad news and taking fairly draconian steps. The staff who were protesting outside this House last June cannot protest. They cannot even protest at home in Clare because everyone is effectively locked down. It is very worrying and the Government needs to find out from the National Transport Authority what is going on. I have written to and telephoned the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport but have received no reply. I appreciate that he is in lockdown, but he is still the Minister.

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