Image via Pixabay.comThe government has done a u-turn on its position on the pandemic unemployment payment.
Minister Heather Humphreys has confirmed people won't lose access to social welfare payments if they travel abroad to green list countries.
After days of controversy around people losing their social welfare payments, Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys announced a u-turn on government policy in the Dáil this morning.
People also won't have their payments stopped if they travel to countries not on the green list for essential reasons like a bereavement, as long as they inform their welfare office. There will also be a review of all the cases to date where people had their payment stopped.
The government's approach to this issue and the mixed messaging was strongly criticised, especially by Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald.
The u-turn is just the latest change of policy from the government after a public backlash and a climbdown from a position that ministers were defending just this morning.
