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On the pandemic unemployment payment? The Taoiseach says you should be seeking work

If people can seek alternative work, they should seek it, says Micheál Martin.

TAOISEACH MICHEÁL MARTIN has said those in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment (PUP) should be seeking work.

His comments come after Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys said earlier today that “if you find that you’re going to be permanently unemployed because your job isn’t there, then you should be looking for work”. 

When asked specifically about the apparent change in criteria of actively seeking work being added to the department’s website yesterday evening, the Taoiseach said:

“I will be seeking a further report on that.”

The apparent change to the criteria was made following Tánaiste Leo Varadkar stating yesterday that it was his understanding that in order to receive the PUP you have to be “seeking work and resident in Ireland and not travelling abroad”.

Martin said the principle that those in receipt of welfare payments seeking work is not new.

When asked about certain sectors, such as publicans and entertainers such as DJs, essentially being furloughed from their jobs due the government restrictions, he acknowledged that some sectors have been “closed down” and are “awaiting reopening”.

However, he said those people should look for work while they wait for their old jobs to come back online. 

“Obviously if people can seek alternative employment, they should seek it,” he said.

Martin stated that people are “obliged” to seek work while on welfare, adding that lots of people are coming off the PUP.

“Many are coming off the PUP and getting alternative work,” he said, adding that the government aims to create “alternative work” so as to “re-orientate the economy”.

The Taoiseach said he wants people on the PUP to seek those jobs out.

Martin said the reopening of pubs in Phase Four is something that is under consideration.

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    Mute Ciarán Mc Mahon
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    Mar 14th 2012, 11:23 AM

    Awaiting Shinnerbot response…. something about re-unification etc.

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    Mute Páid Ó Donnchú
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    Mar 14th 2012, 11:30 AM

    You’d know all about autobot responses.

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    Mute Ciarán Mc Mahon
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    Mar 14th 2012, 11:46 AM

    Bingo!

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    Mute Réada Quinn
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    Mar 14th 2012, 11:56 AM

    I’m not a Shinnerbot, whatever bottoms have to do with being a Shinner I don’t know, but I think on an island this small 1 railway company is ample. Also while you’re on the subject I’d love a United Ireland. So bingo to you Ciarán. ;)

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    Mute Dermot Mc Loughlin
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    Mar 14th 2012, 12:19 PM

    Shinnerbot?
    Aye whatever, but just to entertain you you here’s a map of the current rail network, as you can see the entire border region with the exception of louth is sans rail services, this is most likely a result of partition and lazy Irish government.
    Cross border rail my eye.

    http://www.myguideireland.com/images/stories/Ireland/train_routes.jpg

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    Mute Rommel Burke
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    Mar 14th 2012, 12:55 PM

    I’d say it’s Thomas the tank engine you’re looking for there Ciarán lol. One the subject of trains I’d love to see a service into West Cork.

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    Mute Mark Dolan
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    Mar 14th 2012, 11:27 AM

    Could this be an opportunity to re-open the Western Rail Corridor, from Cork to Derry? Lets hope so!

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    Mute @aidoroch
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    Mar 14th 2012, 11:59 AM

    west on track has been pushing the sligo-galway-limerick re-opening for years and struggling to get help from the government. the track is already there and there is demand for a western rail corridor re-opening but so far only part of it is operational.
    http://www.westontrack.com/

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    Mute Noel Kelly
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    Mar 14th 2012, 1:05 PM

    Definitely something needs to be done. When a ticket bought in Northern Ireland is about half the price for the same ticket bought in Dublin, there has to be something wrong with the way that the service is run

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    Mute Steve Jackman
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    Mar 19th 2012, 4:04 AM

    Was on the NIR website and there is no difference in ticket prices between Dublin and Belfast.

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    Mute Ollie Pinion
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    Mar 14th 2012, 11:51 AM

    Im sure the CIE unions will have something to say about that! track usage training fees or efficiency increase compo or something of that ilk !

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    Mute Figo murphy
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    Mar 14th 2012, 1:09 PM

    Is there not a train running from up north down into Ireland?

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    Mute jimbo
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    Mar 14th 2012, 1:04 PM

    Shut up varadkar

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    Mute Robert Delahunty
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    Mar 14th 2012, 9:07 PM

    As far as I’m concerned anything that integrates the ROI further into the 6 Co’s is a good thing regardless of financial or other considerations. Its only a small thing but it will make the inevitable reunification run all the smoother. The more of these initiatives that link us with the North the better. Inch by Inch we can convince the unionists that it makes more sense to be 1 united country as is only right & proper. The more we integrate with the 6 Co’s the harder it will make for the unionists to resist reunification. After all “Money talks & Bullshit walk”

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