Sinn Féin TD for Dublin South West Seán Crowe has said that he cannot understand the logic of reinstating the need to sign for social welfare payments such as pensions at a time when COVID transmission has never been so high is the height of stupidness

Teachta Crowe said:

“Since the New Year, physically singing on for social protection payments, such as pensions, has been reinstated after being suspended in March. I cannot understand the logic of this given the extremely high rate of COVID transmission and the need for all customers to share an electronic pen. Even with regular sanitisation, this is an unnecessary and foolish risk.

“I had put questions to Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphries in December and was assured that signing for payments was suspended.

“I have today put even more questions to the Minister to try and figure out this bizarre move.

“We cannot have a situation where pensioners and others may be afraid to claim the funds they need to live on because they run the very real risk of contracting COVID because of Government foolishness and bureaucratic red tape.”