66-year-old Donegal pub landlady struggling to pay utility bills due to coronavirus business loss

Mr. Healy-Rae, speaking in the Dáil on Tuesday night, said he had been contacted by the woman after the government decided to put back the re-opening of 'wet' pubs until August at the earliest.

"Many people over the age of 66 years who feel they have been left behind employ people. I refer to people such as publicans. One woman rang me all the way from Donegal when it was announced last weekend that pubs would not be allowed to reopen.

"She and her daughter run a pub. In April she turned 66 years old. She has many commitments and outstanding bills to pay, like a lot of other publicans.

"Many of them are older and all they get is their old age pension, which is not sufficient to pay the outstanding utility bills, whether they are for water, additional electricity or other charges that accrue," he said.

The Independent T.D., a loud and consistent advocate for rural publicans, was speaking during a discussion of the Credit Guarantee (Amendment) Bill 2020, which is designed to help businesses access essential finance through their banks and other financial institutions.

Minister of State at the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation Damien English said: "Finance is needed as a result of the Covid-19 crisis, which as we all know is having a devastating effect on communities, villages and towns in every county."

Referring to the Donegal woman with whom he had been corresponding Deputy Healy-Rae said: "Such people were employing others. Those who are over the age of 66 should at least have been given as much as the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) of €350."