Maria Byrne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We spoke yesterday about some of the issues I am going to raise. I support the K class. I spoke about it when we discussed maternity and paternity leave for councillors and politicians. When I was first elected as a councillor, I was self-employed so I was paying PRSI through my work. I remember my accountant saying to me "sure you're paying PRSI, why are you not entitled to anything for it?" He could not work it out. While it has been sorted out to an extent, it needs to be sorted out fully once and for all. Maternity and paternity leave needs to be resolved as well.

Regarding the tough decision the Minister and other members of the Cabinet will face this evening about whether or not to impose a closing time of 5 p.m., I represent rural and urban areas. Most pubs in rural Ireland do not open until 5 p.m. or 6 p.m. Many of them will never open again if we bring in this 5 p.m. curfew. Restaurants do their main business between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m or 9 p.m. If they were to close at 5 p.m., they may as well not open. There are so many jobs dependent on this. If this 5 p.m. curfew comes into force, a lot of those businesses will never open again. While I appreciate the supports that have been put in place by the Government, it is a very serious issue. My phone has been going since 11 p.m. last night when this announcement first appeared and all day today. We need to look at this. If the 5 p.m. cut off-point comes in, we will drive people to off-licences and into house parties whereas a pub or restaurant is a regulated and safer environment.