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

The PUP was introduced early in the life of the pandemic as a 12-week temporary scheme. In July, the new Government decided to extend it to April. The rates were reduced but they are still at levels closely approximate to what people were earning before being laid off as a result of the pandemic. This was to make it more sustainable over the long term. A total of €3.5 billion has already been allocated to the pandemic unemployment payment. The social protection bill has gone from €20 billion to €28 billion. We must look beyond April and plan accordingly because the impact of Covid financially to the end of 2021 could be far more severe on us as a country than we anticipated. Someone at some stage has to deal with reality in terms of the overall implications. This also applies to the wage subsidy scheme.

The PUP worked in the initial phase. It has been refined. Originally, 600,000 people were on it and it is now down to 200,000 people. Alongside these 200,000 people are 213,000 people on the jobseeker's allowance of €203 a week. These are people who were made unemployed in January or February and never received the PUP. We have to try to achieve a balance somewhere along the way. We must also do everything we possibly can to create alternative jobs, give additional supports in terms of reskilling and try to facilitate people back into the workplace where work is available.

The idea that the Government is trying to stick knives in people is nonsense and rubbish. The Government has made the most unprecedented intervention in underpinning income in the history of the State. This is understandable and it is the correct thing to do because of an unprecedented global pandemic. Some of the language emanating from Deputies opposite in this regard is unfair. We have to think ahead. All of this is being borrowed on behalf of the taxpayer. We have to work ahead and make sure we can sustain it for an indefinite period. We do not know when a vaccine will arrive. Various projections are made from time to time and there can be setbacks.

We have opened up the pandemic unemployment payment to new entrants to cater for where severe restrictions are brought in. Originally it was going to be tapered off. That is no longer the case and it is being opened up again for people who are rendered unemployed as a result of decisions taken to introduce localised restrictions in given areas. A range of other supports is being given to people in various sectors to try to keep jobs going and keep the enterprises intact to maintain jobs. This is the overall objective.

To answer Deputy Kelly on sick pay, there is the Covid illness benefit. It is very unfair to make the points he made. The Government does recognise the exceptional challenge faced by employees during the Covid-19 pandemic and the lack of a statutory sick pay regime. This is why a six-month period is being given. The Government is reacting constructively to the Labour Party's Bill. We are saying to come on and let us get sense. We need to talk to the various Departments. We also need to talk to employers because the Labour Party proposes they would to take the brunt of it.

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