We would like the Minister to answer that specific question.

While more than 500,000 applications for the Covid-19 unemployment payment have been processed, discrimination is at the core of the policy. There is discrimination against certain cohorts of society, one being the over-66s. Many who have been forced to work longer to continue to pay their bills, rent and mortgages now find themselves out of work and are being discriminated against because they cannot apply for the Covid-19 pandemic payment. They pay their taxes and have done so throughout their working lives. The …

I am sharing time with Deputy Carthy. I offer my condolences to the friends and families of all those who have unfortunately passed away due to the Covid-19 pandemic. My thoughts are with them all. It is a difficult time for many families that have had their lives turned upside down as a result of the health crisis we are experiencing. Many families are experiencing serious financial difficulties as a result of family members becoming unemployed or being put on the wage subsidy scheme. It is at times such as this t…

I will start by thanking all the front-line workers who are doing extraordinary work in very difficult circumstances. I extend those thanks to all staff working in the Intreo offices across the State, who have seen an unprecedented level of new applications come before them over recent weeks. More than 100,000 have been dealt with at this stage. I commend and thank those staff members for all their work under extremely difficult circumstances. I welcome this Bill. Many of the social protection measures were dealt w…

I want to go back to the point Deputy Doherty made about cross-Border workers. For the second time, that question has not been addressed or answered. I asked about this in an earlier contribution as well. It is not the subject of these amendments but it is an important point.

On the amendment-----

I am speaking to the amendment. Amendment No. 72 is important regarding redundancies. This change in legislation is effectively putting redundancy payments on hold for the duration of the emergency period, which runs up to 31 May in this legislation. There is a genuine fear that there will be a break in reckonable service. I have had a number of people get in contact with me who have been let go. One man who has 20 years' service with the same company has been made unemployed and has signed on for the Covid-19 paym…

We have seen extraordinary events since the weekend, with over 140,000 workers being let go. It is forecast that up to another 200,000 people could be made unemployed as a result of this crisis in the near future. We heard today that there have been more than 58,000 applications for the new payment. Some 43,000 of those have been processed. Full credit to the staff in the Intreo offices, who are working under huge pressure. We are in a difficult position here today, however. Every amendment to this legislation deal…

A Cheann Comhairle-----

If I could just make a point-----

I note the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection made reference to the top-up or solidarity payments at one of her press briefings today. She said that Government is looking into it and she hoped to have some clarity on the matter today or tomorrow. I am not sure what is being considered, but it certainly needs to be considered immediately because it has knock-on consequences for people and their applications in terms of means testing if that is to be taken into consideration - these solidarity paym…

I have a final point. Regarding the under 25s-----

Will that discriminatory practice of reduced rates for under 25s also be in place for this payment?

These amendments deal with jobseeker's allowance. Sinn Féin had an amendment on this matter as well. I am looking for clarity on jobseeker's allowance because this is a payment self-employed people might be able to access. There seems to be confusion on what self-employed people need to do. I have been informed by a number of people that they have put in applications for this payment and they have been told they need to prove their businesses have been closed down and that they need to prove their insurance has bee…

Up until this evening, there were nine confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ireland. That may be changing as we speak. The head of the HSE, Mr. Paul Reid, said that Ireland remains in a containment phase regarding the coronavirus but he said it would be a challenge to maintain this and the health service was preparing for further phases. Mr. Reid also said many people had been asked to self-isolate for the protection of the public. The British Government stated yesterday that up to 20% of the workforce may be off sick du…