Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This particular Bill only kicks in in terms of social protection, where somebody becomes insolvent and there is no money available from which to pay any creditors. The State refuses to leave employees with nothing. If we did nothing, the United Kingdom would become a third country and would not be subject to this Bill, and the Irish employees in UK companies would not be protected. We are extending the provisions in the Bill to ensure that the UK, if it becomes a third country, will be subject to the Bill. It is a safety net, and we hope that it will be used relatively rarely.

There is no extra provision in our exceptional needs budget because it is entirely driven by demand. I may look for a supplementary budget, as could happen any year, but it is the same as disability provisions and jobseeker's allowance. If anything happens to scuttle the budgets we agreed we will have another conversation at a later point. We certainly will not be turning anyone away.