Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to say a few words about the Financial Provisions (Covid-19) (No. 2) Bill 2020, which gives effect to the July stimulus package which we were all anxiously awaiting. In the main, we are happy with the 50 provisions that were put in place. This stimulus package is, of course, another step in the State response to the global pandemic emergency. It is most welcome that the State is investing in key projects and supporting workers and businesses on a historic scale. We look back over the past few months and assess where we have come from since 12 March, when the original announcement was made about schools closing. Many businesses took their own decisions before it was incumbent on them to close. It has had a significant impact on society and the health of our nation.

As legislators, we have to respond in appropriate ways. We have seen the impact on our health system and education with our schools closing. We have to acknowledge the difficult time this has been for workers in the health sector, those who have been bereaved during the Covid crisis and, of course, for business owners who have lost so much over the past few months. Some people are understandably concerned by the figures we have now and the increasing number of cases being reported on a daily basis. We cannot become unnerved by these figures. We have to promote confidence in terms of how we reopen our schools, businesses and economy. We have to ensure people are making the necessary arrangements from a health impact perspective. We have to be able to support the businesses we have. We know the struggle against Covid-19 will continue for some time. The economic fallout from the virus will likely long outlast the impacts of the virus itself. It is not just Ireland that has been hit but countries right across the world. That is why it is so important we have clear and effective legislation to support businesses and people throughout this turbulent time. We need to ensure the future financial viability of many businesses in Ireland is absolutely supported and that this does not pose a real threat to our long-term economic health. Small businesses around the country play highly significant roles in our economy, employing approximately 1 million people before the pandemic. Their impact on the success of our country is most important. We have to do everything we can. Some of the changes that have happened within our society will be reversed while some will not. The nature of work itself has changed and has proven to be more flexible and adaptable than we would have thought in terms of people working from home and maybe having a better work-life balance. Developing a flexible and innovative economy is really important.

I wish to say a few words about the nature of business within my own county of Kildare. We have a really strong record of small local business and our local enterprise office has been incredibly active. The agricultural and equine industry is also very important to Kildare. We have three racecourses and normally would have quite a number of events around them. It has been particularly difficult for event-driven industries. We need to do as much as we can with them. There are measures in this stimulus plan that will help support them and our local communities. Sports clubs that are rateable will be able to avail of €4,000 grants. That is really important. The investment we are going to have in outdoor recreation spaces will be important. Particularly in a town the size of Newbridge that has only one small playground, I look forward to seeing measures that will ensure we have playgrounds in place. We have learned many lessons and one of them is that having safe spaces of which people and families can avail close to where they live and work is critically important. I welcome the Bill and look forward to its implementation.