Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise a couple of issues with the Minister this afternoon. I ask that the Government look into them as soon as possible as they remain unresolved despite repeated requests for action.

The first issue relates to aviation workers, specifically Aer Lingus employees. My colleague, Teachta O'Reilly, referenced this point. The pandemic and resulting necessary travel restrictions have had a massive impact on workers in the sector. This hardship has been compounded by repeated failures of the social welfare system to support them when they need it most. Last year, we ran into issues where the airline refused to sign forms correctly for workers on the short-term work support scheme. Workers were continuously pushed from pillar to post by the company and the Department for Social Protection. This was eventually resolved for the temporary wages subsidy scheme, TWSS, after we raised it repeatedly with the Minister and with the airline. A satisfactory resolution or fair solution was never found for the EWSS.

Now, cabin crew and other staff are getting notifications from their social welfare offices that their period on jobseeker's benefit is coming to an end and they will have to face a similar further substantial cut in pay in the time head. What has been suggested for them? A further reduction in hours. That is entirely unsatisfactory as a proposal. It is absolutely brutal that this would be suggested. These workers are barely getting by as it is. It is scandalous that the rug is being pulled from under them at this point. They cannot get clarity on it. My colleague, Deputy Clarke, raised the issue with the Tánaiste earlier and, amazingly, he did not seem to understand that a Department, of which he was formerly the head, was responsible for Xs and Os.

We call on the Minister, therefore, to intervene and work with his colleagues in the Department of Social Protection to address this issue as a matter of priority to ensure aviation workers continue to be supported by the wage subsidy scheme, which is welcome, and other necessary social welfare supports. Aviation workers and their unions have called for a German-style wage support. I echo that call here.

My second point relates to another group of transport workers who have been severely impacted over the last 12 months. Taxi drivers have seen their business disappear and their income cut massively. These workers have had to continue to cover expensive overheads for their vehicles and the income supports put in place for them simply do not cover it. Thousands of drivers in the sector are over the age of 66, meaning they are not entitled to the pandemic employment payment, PUP.

We called for tailored supports for this sector to ensure taxi drivers are supported but this request has fallen on deaf ears. In the North, for example, there is a simple, targeted £3,000 grant. The Minister for Transport here seems to be living in a parallel universe to taxi drivers. The suggestion that the main initiative by this Government is a grant for electric vehicles, EV, is simply completely out of touch. A direct and focused support for this sector is needed or it will not survive. It is a case of survival and support rather than cosmetics on the outside.

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