Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I accept that the Minister cannot introduce sector-specific schemes, but there are sectors that we know cannot reopen or can reopen only in very limited circumstances because of crowd control measures or social distancing. As the Minister has pointed out, there has been unprecedented support for welfare payments and employment supports across the past 15 months and I think everybody recognises that, but we have to look at these cases and allow for flexibility where we want these people to return to work and they want to return to work. This is their job. It is what they love doing. They want to be out there entertaining and putting on these shows. I am not just talking about the artists or the person on the stage; behind every lighting rig and every sound desk is a highly qualified, skilled engineer working away. We want to allow them to work. We do not want them to have to take two gigs during the summer and then go back onto a lesser payment because their industry is not open. We have to address that.

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