Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú) | Oireachtas source

The damage that was caused to the country over the past year is eye watering. The damage is happening in hundreds of thousands of families. At hundreds of thousands of dinner tables, the stress and the strain of living with Covid is being experienced.

It must also be said that this Government relied on lockdown far more than any other Government in Europe. No other government comes near Ireland as regards the level of lockdown, which was because of Government inaction in a range of other areas in the health service etc.

In my last few seconds on this point, I will focus on those who still will be in receipt of a PUP over the next number of months. The Minister is a Cavan woman and such women are very practical people. On 2 June, hotels will open for indoor dining and for the serving of pints to be drunk, while it will be a further week before pubs and restaurants can open outside. They have not been given any date for indoor dining.

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