People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett has said that people who are under the age of 18 and 66 and over, who were working before the onset of the Covid 19 crisis measures, should be entitled to avail of the Covid 19 payment and that these cohorts’ exclusion from the support was a “serious injustice”.
The Dún Laoghaire TD said that the exclusion of u18s and people over the age of 66, who had been working, from the Covid payment was “blatant discrimination based on ages grounds”.
He said: “I think the situation where people under the ages of 18 and 66 and over being excluded from and unable to avail of the Covid 19 payment of €350 is not only unjust, but a blatant example of age-based discrimination.
“People in these age brackets still have living costs to deal with- rent, food costs and other issues. These issues do not affect only people aged over 18 and under 66. In many cases, for example, people under the age of 18 might be contributing to household income. With their exclusion from the Covid 19 payment their household could be down money substantially.
“Furthermore, the government need to extend the Covid 19 payment to a universal payment that can be availed of by everyone in this state. Rent, utility bills, mortgage payments and the high cost of living in this state are universally applicable to everyone so why isn’t the Covid 19 payment?”
