Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I do not doubt the difficulties caused by Covid, nor do I doubt any of the measures the Taoiseach has outlined. I greatly welcome them all. My question is simple: will these apprentices finish their apprenticeships when they are scheduled to do so? No doubt, they have made plans for their lives, including to buy a van and get working, and ultimately to buy a house as they are building houses. Will they be able to commence as fully qualified electricians, carpenters, plumbers etc. as scheduled?

To draw an analogy, the members of the Government have a slightly unusual relationship in that the Tánaiste, Deputy Varadkar, was told he would be Taoiseach again in December 2022. If the Taoiseach turned around to the Tánaiste and said that since there have been a lot of difficulties over Covid, he was not going to be Taoiseach for another year at least-----

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