Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Again, the Covid figure is the one I take as my yardstick in terms of the unemployment rate and the reality of the situation for many people. Of course, in the context of those supports, the jobs stimulus programme will focus on that area and on the wage subsidy scheme, which has protected thousands of jobs. We can get into all sorts of statistics, but it remains unclear how many companies will be viable over time. Many companies have been and are being protected by the wage subsidy scheme. Part of the July stimulus programme will be to evaluate that scheme and fine-tune it. No one will come off a cliff as a result of any policy decisions. The July job stimulus is aimed not just at protecting jobs but at creating additional jobs. It is going to be an uncertain time ahead in terms of the employment situation. There are various estimates made by the bodies that project employment figures and so on. I hope some of them are realised in the context of a significant reduction by the end of the year. It is fair to say to all concerned, however, that supports will be necessary in the medium term but also that initiatives will have to be taken to create jobs and alternative opportunities, particularly for young people.

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