The Chair of the Licenced Vintners Association has said the "plug needs to be pulled" on the Pandemic Unemployment Payment, days after the payment officially ended.
As of March 29, a total of 44,747 people received the Pandemic Unemployment Payment. Of these, 17,183 are from Dublin.
However, on March 25, all remaining PUP recipients were moved to standard jobseeker’s terms. March 29 was the final day the payment was made.
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The PUP was reduced to €208 per week earlier this month, the same rate as the Jobseekers Allowance.
LVA Chair Noel Anderson caused a debate on Twitter on Thursday morning when he said the payment should be stopped.
He said: "44,000 people on PUP this morning. Every industry looking for staff. That plug needs to be pulled now. @LeoVaradkar @MichealMartinTD."
One person replied: "PUP is over, it’s all Jobseekers. I am sure you will get the staff if there is guaranteed full time hours and proper pay. Anything under €15.00 an hour is just not feasible for people living in Dublin now."
Another wrote: "There’s work for anyone who wants it."
A third said: "I’ll take 5 or 10 of them for the weekend."
A fourth wrote: "Speaking as an employer, I find this attitude towards potential employees, and indeed any human beings, abhorrent.
"If the PUP - which is already being phased out - is preventing you getting staff, you really need to look at what pay and conditions you're offering."
Mr Anderson reacted to the comments by writing: "Seems I lit a fuse… anyway work to do" before adding a waving goodbye emoji.
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