Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We are all aware that Covid-19 has thrown up some real challenges for our nation, especially in respect of health, but the massive strain on jobs and business too has been thrown to the fore. The ways in which people have engaged with their week's work has for some become better but for others worse. Workers have found themselves working from home, an idea their employers would have said was a non-runner just 12 months ago. On the opposite side of the scale, hundreds of thousands of people have been laid off, many of whom have never been on a social welfare payment before, and have been plunged into unemployment, all of a sudden on reduced incomes, which obviously has led to struggles to pay mortgages, keep food on the table and pay all the other household bills owed, as well as the stress of trying to adjust and manage it all.

Covid-19 has offered many changes to how we operate in Ireland, both in the short and the long terms. Working from home for some may very well be a long-term arrangement, given that we have heard from some that workplaces have told their staff they will not be back on site before July 2021. While some will welcome this and are happy to work from home as it may allow for more flexibility with childcare and other family duties, it is imperative that we legislate for more security and rights when working from home. We have seen cases where employees are working much later hours from home, with some employers expecting the later working time to surpass their usual working day, something that would not be accepted if they were in an office environment. The phrase "out of sight, out of mind" comes to mind and these circumstances are not acceptable.

On many occasions over the summer, I stood in the Chamber along with other Deputies and outlined challenges being faced by many sectors of society that had been left behind during Covid. I take this opportunity to raise the issue of these people and their sectors once again, starting with taxi drivers. We are all aware there is a large gathering of taxi and hackney drivers outside the gates of Leinster House calling for supports that have been severely lacking. At the height of lockdown, these drivers were out of work and claimed the PUP. For some this may have been just about enough to get by, but for many others it was not. Throughout this time and since the start of the easing of restrictions, many taxi drivers have been aware of their public service obligations and have been cognisant of the front-line workers who have relied on their service. They have returned to work, even through the night when business hours have been severely reduced, and these drivers should be acknowledged for that.

There is also the tourism sector, a cohort of businesses that can be broken down into many parts. Back home in County Kerry, there are small business owners all along the Wild Atlantic Way who are totally dependent on tourists to survive. At the start of this pandemic, these businesses were not able to claim the temporary wage subsidy scheme, TWSS, due to being closed during the off season, unsure of whether it would be worth their while to reopen, leaving many unable to return to work when they wanted to. Bus operators in rural Clare and throughout the State were left unable to garner business. No sports teams, schools or tours meant their buses were left parked with nothing to do, but the costs did not stop. The loans needed to be paid and the insurance covered, and that was without supports. There are many others, such as travel agencies, the events industry, musicians, and artists, as well as horse and trekking companies in Clare with no tourists, business or supports, but the animals still have to be fed. A total of €350 a week would not go far, when one thinks about it, for a family of four with another 15 or so animals to feed on top of that.

I turn to the issue of Shannon Airport and the heritage sites. While we welcomed the announcement by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, that he would carry out a review of the Shannon Group structures, here we are nine weeks later with no sign of the review nearing completion. The review is needed and is eagerly sought by the people of the mid-west. There are staff at Shannon Airport and at the Shannon Heritage sites who need to know where their jobs will be in 12 months' time. Again, while there was a last-minute announcement of funding to keep the heritage sites open past the end of August, we need to ensure these sites will get the supports they need to stay open into 2021. We cannot allow circumstances in which workers are left waiting until just four days before an impending lay-off to find out whether their jobs are safe. While supports were made available via Exchequer funding, such as the PUP and the TWSS, many, including Sinn Féin, warned about the risk of cutting the TWSS and replacing it with the employment wage subsidy scheme, EWSS. As the matter unfolded, however, the Government went ahead with it anyway.

Finally, I raise the issue of those over the age of 66, who have been completely forgotten about. Many publicans, such as in rural Ireland, are over the age of 66. They were forced out of work and were unable to claim the PUP. This does not relate just to publicans but extends to taxi drivers, chauffeurs and many others who are unable to work.

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