Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State, again, is not getting the point. The over-66s have been excluded. They did not get even an additional €5 in their pensions. They got nothing. They got nothing in the PUP, which they were not eligible for. It must be increased to €350 for the other self-employed people who need it right now. Of course I appreciate that the wage subsidy scheme has been extended and that it may be extended past April, and the extension of the PUP, but they need to be increased. The Government must consider the over-66s, who have been totally abandoned and whose businesses have closed. Many of them are publicans, taxi drivers, bus drivers for private companies, bus owners or musicians with wonderful talent to share with their communities, who love and miss them dearly. That whole cohort is being missed. We cannot just abandon those over the age of 66, some of whom are fitter than we will be at that age, God bless them.

We must ensure that the hospitality sector is protected too. The Government must deal with the regulators to ensure that utility providers are not screwing places that have closed, such as hotels and bed and breakfast businesses. When they have closed, they still must pay significant utility fees and that is totally unacceptable. The Minister of State is not listening. The Government is abandoning the over-66s.

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