Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is important to make the point there is no uniformity in how the Covid pandemic impacted on businesses across different sectors in the private sector economy. It was wide and varied. Some businesses closed while others thrived. Many others are struggling and others are staying afloat because of Government supports. I do not agree with the approach that the Government should seek to compel or force the private sector to do certain things to recognise the efforts of workers over the pandemic period, but the Government can, and will, provide leadership on this issue. Even in the course of the past few minutes, we have got a sense of the complexity of this issue. Many issues need to be considered. More than 5,000 people, to date, have lost their lives due to Covid-19 and it is not over. Covid has not gone away; it is still here. We all have to continue to be vigilant and recognise that reality. There can be no declaration of victory that we are at an end point - we are not. All the issues raised by colleagues are being actively considered and we are determined to deal with this issue in the next few weeks.

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