Dáil debates

Tuesday, 28 July 2020

Social Welfare (Covid-19) (Amendment) Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages

 

8:45 pm

Photo of Mattie McGrathMattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I too am disappointed with the Bill and with the whole situation around Covid-19. Party leaders and group leaders had briefings with the Department of Health and NPHET and when we asked questions, we were not getting answers. I raised in the Dáil that we had not a briefing with NPHET in the past two months. NPHET is meeting the Business Committee on Thursday morning, I hope, but there are huge mixed messages and huge discrimination against the over-66s and all the artists and musicians. The Minister said the man in the van is covered but he is not. The man in the van, every musician, musical group and arts group must have a vehicle to bring around their equipment. They are huge and expensive vehicles that must be DOE'd, taxed, paid for and everything else. The Minister is giving them no support whatsoever. She used to be Minister with responsibility for the arts; I do not know why she has such a set against them. I mentioned Big Tom and Paddy Cole earlier---

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