PUP – Outstanding questions remain for Minister
Responding to the latest government u-turn on the Pandemic Unemployment Payment, Labour Social Protection Spokesperson Seán Sherlock has welcomed the decision by the Minister saying common sense had prevailed but added that questions remain for the Minister about the legal standing of recent regulations and the approach of her Department.
Deputy Sherlock said:
“I am glad that common sense has prevailed on the Minister today, and that she will regularise the travel situation regarding the PUP but this is another last minute u-turn from the Government.
“However the Minister’s announcement today still doesn’t address the questions raised by the Free Legal Advice Centre. The government have pursued a discriminatory agenda against those on the PUP and the legal basis of that is open to question.
“What we still don’t know is did the Minister receive advice from the Attorney General on her regulations? Was her statutory instrument legally sound?
“Secondly questions remain for the Minister about the reasonable grounds being used at airports to profile social welfare recipients. It appears as though a net has been cast on all those leaving the country and payments such as child benefit have also been stopped.”