Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The aviation sector has been decimated by the pandemic. Workers across the State are on reduced hours, reduced pay, the pandemic unemployment payment, PUP, and the employment wage subsidy scheme, EWSS. Some have lost their jobs. This week, we heard the devastating news that Aer Lingus has announced further job losses and base closures. More than 140,000 jobs depends on us getting this right and ensuring the sector comes through but the Minister's hands-off attitude to date has made the situation much worse. Our connectivity has to be protected. It has to be front and centre, as do the jobs. Dealing with social welfare for Aer Lingus workers has been a battle a day and we now learn that their short-term work supports will be cut off. Will the Minister please intervene to ensure that, at the very least, they are kept on the minimum payments until the Government publishes the plan for the survival and recovery of the aviation sector, which is desperately needed?

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