Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú) | Oireachtas source

A significant theme is crystallising around how the Government is tackling the Covid-19 crisis. It is a tale of two countries. The Covid-19 restrictions are hitting low and middle income workers far more than any other element of society. Instead of reducing that impact, the Government is rubbing the noses of people in those incomes in it. There are pay rises for Deputies at the same time as income support cuts for hundreds of thousands of workers who have just lost their jobs. The Government is spending millions of euro on up to 70 special advisers while, at the same time, cutting income for 200,000 families in various parts of the country. It is reminiscent of the days of Charlie Haughey, when he was telling people to tighten their belts while, at the same time, he was purchasing Charvet shirts in Paris. This is a two-tier approach by Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party, and it can also be seen in how they are treating workers.

The Government has sought to lock down the economy, shut down schools and childcare facilities, and has called on people to suspend their livelihoods and incomes in the battle to stop Covid-19. It has made these demands but does not want to provide these workers with the necessary supports. It is absolutely willing to exhibit a demand from citizens but unwilling to support those workers in their time of need. We have seen it happen with the childcare sector, the entertainment industry, the aviation sector, the events industry, the pub trade and the taxi trade, to name but a few. Now we are seeing it with workers who are sick or with parents who are unable to go to work because they are unable to care for their children. At a time of an international pandemic, no one should be punished for falling ill and no parent should be punished for caring for their sick child.

I welcome the intentions of the Bill and commend the Labour Party on bringing it forward. If it is the case that a vaccine will not be found for at least a number of years, we need to put a regime in place to allow for sectors of society to function properly while we tackle the virus. There will be cases of Covid-19 in schools. Some schools will be closed, as a number have already had to do temporarily. As such, children will need to be kept at home. We need to be able to say to parents that they will not suffer a collapse in income if they are minding their children. They should not have to go in and negotiate with their employer in order that they can go home and have some level of income. It is incredible what is coming from the Government because the Taoiseach has stated as much, as has the HSE. They have told people not to go into work if they are experiencing the symptoms of Covid-19. The Government cannot, however, say that in all honesty to people if it is not going to provide some level of support for them. Guaranteeing sick pay is the very least that can be done to ensure that people will not go to work and risk spreading Covid-19 around the workplace.

Nevertheless, a key element of the context of the Bill, and one on which I agree with my colleague, Deputy Canney, is that many businesses throughout the country are hanging on by a thread. Many of them, especially small businesses, would be wiped out if they had by themselves to take on the burden of sick pay. We call on the Government to step in and ensure there is a floor of necessary supports underneath both workers and those struggling businesses to ensure they can function through this pandemic.

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