Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I also welcome the opportunity to speak on this motion. Cutting the PUP payment has caused immense worry for workers and their families. Many workers have only returned to work after months away, only to be told their workplaces must close again. Those on the PUP have been told that they must face cuts of up to €200 a month to their supports and yet this Government has seen fit to ignore the need for longer payment breaks for already hard-pressed borrowers.

We have to be realistic. Covid-19 will be with us for a long time to come. Workers and businesses will require a major level of support from the Government. Promises that we are all in this together ring hollow, particularly when the Government decides to cut supports like this. We have certainly heard that message ringing hollow this week. Workers and their families are facing into a period of intense disruption and uncertainty. Many households are worried about debt and what will happen if the restrictions go on and we are forced to curtail the economy further. We should be increasing supports and not lowering them. We should be making the banks give loan repayment breaks, not allowing people to fall into arrears on their loans and mortgages. We should remember that we bailed out the banks. Now is the time for them to repay their debts.

Household debt cannot be the inevitable consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic. If we want to make it out of Covid-19 in one piece, we must ensure that workers and their families have access to essential financial supports now. We are at level 3 now and NPHET has warned that if matters do not improve drastically we will be at level 5 before Christmas. Workers and businesses deserve clarity and support as they face these hugely challenging circumstances. We cannot abandon them to huge stress and uncertainty at a time when so many people are already struggling financially. PUP cuts must be reversed.

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