Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I agree with a considerable amount of what has been said in the sense that there is much to be welcomed, but elements of particular proposals are reheated. We all accept that using the GDP rating to determine the moneys we receive from the EU recovery and resilience fund and providing us with only €915 million in the first tranche is not necessarily the methodology we want to use in the future. This must be examined because it is an insufficient amount when compared to what other states are receiving. GPD is providing a bad read of the status of the economy. The other problem is the own resources decision. We did not deal in the House with the fact that the EU has taken a loan of €750 billion and the decisions that will be made on how that will be paid back. There are, therefore, outstanding issues in that regard..

We accept the emphasis, as we try to move beyond this pandemic, on recovery. We welcome that there must be action on the green and digital transition. In dealing with the digital transition, given the ransomware attack on our health services, this demands that we build in whatever must be done from the point of view of securing ourselves. That means ensuring we have cybersecurity capacity at the optimum level. That goes beyond whatever will come out of the National Cyber Security Centre, NCSC, review, which will probably tell us that the NCSC is not fit for purpose at this point in time and will require further resourcing, but we must consider other protective and even offensive measures. This must be built into any plan.

Regarding some of the supports, I spoke to many Ministers about the fact that many people fell between the stools. I hope the business resumption support scheme will deal with an element of them, but we must see action in respect of taxi drivers. I welcome what was said about aviation workers. Any supports for the airlines must be connected to ensure jobs and workers’ rights are maintained.

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