Despite my raising this with the Tánaiste in June and the Taoiseach in July as well as tabling numerous parliamentary questions, there remains absolute anger and frustration among the workforce of Aer Lingus and other companies in the aviation sector in respect of their social welfare entitlements. The replies we are receiving are not reflected in their experiences in Intreo offices. They are not reflected in their experiences with their employer either. The net result is that workers are taking home pay of €40. There are workers taking home net pay of €200 who are trying to raise families and meet mortgage commitments. They consider themselves the lucky ones. There is major distress and upset.

I hope the Government is talking to the company in terms of connectivity. That needs to be discussed. I ask the Tánaiste and the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to engage with the company with a view to ensuring that these workers receive their entitlements and that there are open doors rather than closed doors, continued cloudiness and lack of clarity.

I will certainly say to the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Deputy Humphreys, that Deputy Smith has raised this again. I have seen some individual queries of constituents of mine who are finding it difficult to access their welfare entitlements. As is often the case, everyone's situation is different and that can complicate matters, but we will try to help as best we can.

The Government really appreciates and understands the extent to which the aviation sector, airports and airlines have been severely hit by the pandemic and the strict travel rules the Government has put in place to protect the health of the country. Aer Lingus has been a major beneficiary of the wage subsidy scheme. It has enabled the company to hang on to many of its staff. It will be a major beneficiary of the employment wage subsidy scheme, which will allow it to keep a lot of its staff on the payroll. We are in engagements with the company to see if we can support the airline in a similar way to other Governments to ensure its survival through the pandemic, because we need the airline and we will need the connectivity next summer.