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

The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport will continue to engage with the representatives of taxi drivers to discuss measures to ease the burden on them during what is a very difficult time for them. As I have said to the Deputy before, issues arise in administering these measures to protect all involved, ensure money gets to those who really need and deserve it, ensure verification etc. That said, there is a need to assist the sectors the Deputy has identified which have not really benefited from restart grants or other interventions which had the merit of involving local authorities insofar as businesses had to be subject to commercial rates, which allowed for ease of administration. Other sectors have not had that benefit. There is no doubt that hospitality and the sectors dependent on tourism and travel have been hit hardest. The Covid-19 pandemic unemployment payment has been a very significant intervention by the Government, to the value of €3.3 billion. That will continue and we are now opening it up to new entrants until the end of the year. That represents fairness and a good intervention by the State on behalf of the taxpayer.

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