Dáil debates

Wednesday, 3 June 2020

Covid-19 (Foreign Affairs and Trade): Statements

 

6:25 pm

Photo of Aengus Ó SnodaighAengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will pass the information on. The problem is not specific to that man alone. Many others have contacted me about this matter. He has been in contact with the Irish Embassy and it cut and pasted advice to him concurrent with what the Spanish authorities have already promised but have not delivered. The problem is that 12 weeks later, he and his wife combined have received a sum of €129. Others have received nothing. They are Irish citizens who are living off whatever savings they have and who are not in receipt of any other payments because their only income was work when the tourist season was up and running. That is gone and it is likely to be gone for a good while. The key action is to request that the Spanish authorities provide some kind of help, even if it is the help they have already promised. The argument is that there is too much bureaucracy and that is the problem these people face. They are musicians and they have raised hundreds of euro, even in the dire straits they are in, for those who are non-EU citizens, who are living in Lanzarote and who are penniless. This specific case relates to an Irish citizen. Many others like him are reaching out and asking us to put pressure on the Spanish Government to help them. They are not looking for the same supports that are available here, they are looking for what is available to Spanish citizens.

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