Covid package will come as a relief but many remain excluded

Monday 23 November 2020

Commenting on the new Covid economic package, Green Party NI MLA Rachel Woods said: 

"Minister Murphy's statement will come as a relief for many people today. 

"Businesses are set to close at the end of this week and financial support is vital as they enter what is usually their busiest time of the year.

"I welcome the £10.6 million for so called 'wet pubs' and the £5 million for tourism and hospitality, after they have spent most of the year behind closed doors.

"However, we do not know if this announcement will do anything for the many businesses that were excluded from previous government support schemes because they fall outside the criteria for support.

"Today in the Assembly, I asked the Minister what his Department is doing to identify and close the gaps for businesses falling through gaps in government support schemes. 

"Excluded businesses and business owners cannot continue to be left in the wilderness. There have been many months now for the Executive to identify these businesses and put financial support in place for them. 

"There is money in the government's Covid coffers and it must be targeted to those most in need of funding. I urge the Executive to make payments as soon as they possibly can."