Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Taoiseach. I take this opportunity to join others in paying tribute to Dr. Tony Holohan and his work. He has stepped back now and I know that the good wishes of the entire country go with him.

The Taoiseach talked about the co-ordinated response from his office. People want to hear that because it gives them confidence. He also spoke about public awareness campaigns around Covid-19. I would reiterate the importance of making sure we have a proper regional spread when it comes to giving out that message by using local newspapers and radio stations. That will be some help in supporting local media but, more importantly, it will ensure that good public information reaches all parts of the country.

Several Deputies raised the issue of the wearing of masks. It is my fourth time to raise it and, in doing so, I am not being critical for the sake of it.

The messaging in respect of masks has not been clear. I know many people who are more than willing to follow the guidance they are given, but many of them consider that there is no clarity regarding the wearing of masks. We run the risk of letting the perfect become the enemy of the good. It is not perfect if I wear a mask, but it makes a difference. The message on this issue has been sent clearly and concisely to people. Further effort is needed, however.

The Taoiseach referred to an investment-led jobs and recovery initiative. I addressed the previous Taoiseach, Deputy Varadkar, a few times on this issue and I am pleased to have an opportunity to raise it with the current Taoiseach. I acknowledge that the July stimulus is yet to come. I refer to the idea that we attempt to rebalance grant aid and loans for businesses and SMEs. The restart grant of €3,000 is quite small when compared with the grants available in the UK, Germany and several other countries. The average grant in the UK is approximately £10,000, while in Germany a company employing up to ten people can avail of a grant up to a maximum of €15,000. We need to consider the level of grant aid that is available. Of course, the grants are connected to the rates paid by the business last year. The average grant is approximately €3,000, with a maximum of €10,000. However, many businesses do not pay rates. Before she left office, the former Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection and current Senator, Regina Doherty, announced a new scheme of €1,000 for such businesses. It is a very small scheme. Many of the businesses have incurred significant costs.

I wish to raise the specific issue of community and voluntary groups which run their local community centre as a business. The centre may offer language or Irish dancing classes or other activities to bring in a bit of revenue to keep the place open. Unless such groups were specifically involved in Covid-related activities, for which the former Minister for Rural and Community Development, Deputy Ring, allocated funding, they are not getting any money. I have sought clarity on whether the grant of €1,000 will be available to these groups, but I have not found it. Perhaps the Taoiseach will enlighten me. If he cannot, I wish to make the point that these groups need support. They do not need not huge sums of money, but they have a level of debt that they wish to clear before opening their doors. I ask him to keep that in mind.

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