Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising those issues. I welcome the publication of the NESC report on vulnerable employment. My Department is already engaged in a number of activities outlined in the report as key drivers of the response to the just transition. The Department has been engaged in the process and we are committed to it.

The regional enterprise plans are all focused on climate change. There are specific initiatives for the midlands where Bord na Móna announced job losses. A just transition facilitator was appointed by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, which comes under the remit of the Minister, Deputy Bruton. Support is available to firms for energy efficiency from the LEO, through Enterprise Ireland. A dedicated team in my Department is working with the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment's team. There is a specific pillar in the Future Jobs Ireland initiative on how we transition to a low-carbon economy. A lot of work is going on in that particular space.

The Deputy also asked about supports for businesses that need to change to comply with new guidelines, for example, in manufacturing plants. Enterprise Ireland is available to advise on structural changes. In addition, business continuity vouchers are available through LEOs. Those who need to change could take that into account because it is another issue they will have to address in terms of opening up their businesses. For example, they may need to put up Perspex screens or take a number of other such measures. They can use the business continuity grant for that purpose. Anybody can apply for it through the LEOs and plan how best they can do that. We will see how we can help them in the future with the obvious changes they will have to make.

Regarding the access of those on maternity leave to the wage subsidy scheme, the operation of the scheme is a matter for the Minister for Finance but I will raise this with him. I understand women who are due to finish statutory maternity leave, paid or unpaid, but who cannot return to their employment due to Covid-19, are entitled to the pandemic unemployment payment from when they are due to return to work. They should engage with their employer to see whether they can avail of the wage subsidy scheme. I will raise the matter with the Minister for Finance.

I will also raise the matter of the rail line between Limerick Junction and Waterford with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.

Another issue raised concerned commercial rents and tenants.

Commercial rents is a real concern for many businesses. A recent survey from Retail Excellence estimated that only 18% of retail businesses paid their rent due at the start of April for quarter 2. Despite that, we are not hearing widespread reports of businesses being threatened with eviction. That tells me that the vast majority of landlords are taking a practical and commonsense approach to this. I encourage them to do that. Landlords are businesses too and they should recognise that this is a unique situation. If one has a good reliable tenant, one will not want to lose him or her because maybe not everybody will need rented property when we get to the other side of this. Unfortunately, there will be businesses which may not be able to return. That is the reality. Landlords who have good tenants should be looking after them. If landlords got flexibility from the banks, we would ask them to pass that on to their tenants. Of course, in saying all this, there will always be exceptions. We are examining what can be done in those cases. I have raised the matter around protections for businesses with the Attorney General. I have asked him to look at what has been done in other countries and to see whether it is possible to put similar protections in place here.

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