Pearse Doherty has called for the pandemic unemployment payment to be extended until the end of the year.
The Sinn Fein finance spokesman said that cutting these supports would be a major blow to hard working families who have had their "incomes collapse" due to the Covid-19 crisis.
His comments come after Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe refused to rule out reducing or scrapping the payment at the end of June.
Deputy Doherty said: "Since the outbreak of Covid-19, more than 600,000 people have lost their jobs. Workers and families have seen their household incomes collapse and this is a hugely stressful time for people who desperately need certainty and support.
“The Minister for Finance has refused to rule out scrapping or reducing the Pandemic Unemployment Payment after June, and this has caused huge anxiety and stress for workers and families at an already difficult time.
“As we seek to rebuild the economy in the coming months, we cannot cut unemployment supports for those who have already seen their incomes reduced. Doing so will leave many people in dire financial circumstances and it makes no economic sense.
“At a time when consumer spending and confidence is down, the best thing the government can do at this time is support demand.
“The government needs to confirm that anyone who has lost income as a result of this crisis will not become worse off again as a result of cuts to income supports.
"To do that we need to make it clear that the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment will continue to be paid until the end of the year.”
