Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The pandemic has forced us all to re-examine the way we view social protection. None of us would have imagined a situation where hundreds of thousands of workers were going to be laid off or lose their jobs and be forced to stay out of work for months.

I listened to the Minister's speech. She spoke about the extended lockdown, the need to once again flatten the curve and protect the vaccine roll-out. We cannot strip away supports and benefits that allow workers and their families to observe restrictions and stay at home, where possible. Can we take it as read that the PUP is to be continued as long as the Covid restrictions keep businesses from operating? Does the Ceann Comhairle want to take questions one-by-one or as a group?

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