Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome having time to speak on the CRSS. There is no doubt those eligible will be very glad to hear of an extension. I do not believe those who are ineligible will be very pleased to see nothing is being announced for them today. The eligibility criteria set by the CRSS have been far too narrow and exclude far too many important businesses. It has seen numerous small local indigenous businesses excluded. People have seen their life's work go down the drain because they do not meet the eligibility criteria.

I want to talk about charter skippers. They are part of the lifeblood of rural and coastal towns and villages, particularly the tourism sector in those coastal towns and villages. They also contribute greatly to training young people who are boat or sea enthusiasts for the future. The charter skippers have small well-kept boats to facilitate people who wish to explore, for instance, the Saltee Islands in Wexford, or perhaps do a spot of angling or fishing between Kilmore and Duncannon along the coast of County Wexford. Most of those involved are aged over 66, in receipt of a pension, and therefore not eligible for the PUP. They all have insurance, harbour dues and the maintenance and upkeep of their boats. This is estimated to cost €8,000 to €10,000 per annum, and this is their second year to pay these costs without business. They were ignored by the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin. In turn, they were ignored by Fáilte Ireland. Will the Minister please acknowledge they are a valuable asset? They are as significant as garden furniture or outdoor furniture. Can we acknowledge we need them by providing support and assistance to keep them in existence, because when they are gone, they are gone. None of the schemes announced was delivered to charter skippers. They do not qualify for the small business assistance scheme for Covid either because they do not turn over €50,000 a year.

Many other cohorts have been left out of supports or schemes, such as event catering companies, which have invested heavily in work premises and transport fleets to cater for concert-goers. They provide the food we love to eat when we go to concerts but they have not had events. They have been excluded because they do not pay rates but they have greatly invested in their premises.

I sent the Minister an email, and I sent it to all of the Cabinet some months ago, in respect of the EU's temporary framework that allows member states to use full flexibility under state aid rules to support the economy through Covid-19. This framework allows the Government to grant compensation to companies and businesses for damage due to and directly caused by the pandemic. I ask the Minister to consider the thousands of retailers, especially boutique owners, who are carrying the stock of three seasons because we have had the longest pandemic closure in Europe.

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