Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The Minister may have had the opportunity to read the recent National Economic and Social Council report on employment vulnerability as part of a just transition. It reports on the challenges of moving to a low-carbon and eventually to a zero-carbon economy, as well as the opportunities for innovation, employment retraining and investment.

Just transition is described in that document as a bridge from where we are now to a future where all jobs are green and decent, where poverty is eradicated and our communities are thriving and resilient. It is a systemic and whole-of-economy approach to sustainability. It is a driver of job creation. It embeds social justice and climate justice into economic policy. We have an obligation to address our global climate chaos. Adhering to the principles of a just transition is how we bring everybody along on that challenge of long-term carbon emission reductions and ensures the impacts of climate policy are fair on the individual.

The next decade will be a green decade. We are in a moment of complete change. The green new deal, the EU financial supports, will be transformative in creating the future economy that works for all of us. It is up to us to grasp that opportunity. In this context, will the Minister consider creating an office of just transition in her Department?

There has been much speculation about the easing of health restrictions and which businesses may be permitted to open on a phased basis, obviously in line with best medical and health advice. A significant challenge to business owners across the retail sector, professional services, the hospitality and tourism industry, as well as others, will be the requirement to manage their workplaces in line with social distancing, limiting numbers of staff and customers in attendance and strict adherence to that guidance.

Along with the valid concerns that other Deputies have raised this afternoon about requests for support around cash flow, liquidity, rates, rents, insurance and other pressures, there is also a need for clear guidance on what social-distance structural changes will be required in order to trade again. This relates to alterations to the shop floor, offices, customer and staff areas and, in general, the normal work practices which will have to be changed. All of these issues will have to be addressed.

I have raised previously with the Minister for Finance increasing the amount and the application of the business continuity voucher system to cover this. In response it was indicated other measures were being considered. Will the Minister outline her Department's progress on these other measures and support measures available to business to actually implement structural alterations to the workplace, guidance as to what those alterations may look like, changes in work practice and health requirements that might be required? The Minister covered many of the supports in her opening statement. I am referring to the practical measures that might be taken. While the doors to those businesses are closed, they could be carrying out practical measures. I have read the two National Standards Authority of Ireland, NSAI, documents to which the Minister referred. While they cover many of the areas of concern, they do not fully cover my concerns about the practical structural changes that could be made now while the doors of those businesses are actually closed.

The Minister will be aware that women returning from maternity leave are experiencing difficulty and being denied acceptance onto the temporary wage subsidy scheme. To qualify, an employee must have been on the payroll through January and February. However, in the case of maternity leave, that may not have been the case. Trade unions have raised this problem and I have been contacted by those affected. Could the Minister clarify whether this is an anomaly in the scheme and whether it will be addressed and rectified quickly in order to grant women returning to work after maternity leave the same rights and supports as other workers?

Could she provide clarity on the position of commercial renters during this crisis and whether they are included in the eviction moratorium as set out in the Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act? Could she provide clear information to commercial tenants and landlords on how these tenancy protections are to be implemented?

Finally, I ask her to liaise with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to confirm when the Waterford to Limerick Junction rail line will be reopened. I believe it has been closed by Irish Rail due to Covid-19. This rail line provides a vital link between the south-east and the west for passengers and needs to be restored as soon as possible. Regarding Brexit and exports, the Limerick Junction to Rosslare Port and the Dublin to Rosslare lines should be assessed for investment to provide an improved commuter service and also to maintain a business and trade transport link directly to the rest of Europe.

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