Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I probably will not take all that time. I do not like the practice of waiving pre-legislative scrutiny as a general rule. I fully appreciate, however, that it is necessary from time to time. I hope this is not a practice that develops because, unfortunately, in the context of one of the committees I was on in the previous Dáil, it became an unfortunate practice and led to some friction.

Some of the schemes that the Government is administering with regard to this legislation have a far higher take-up rate than others. There is a sense from SMEs and family-run businesses that if there is engagement with them before the schemes are launched, then the schemes can be fit for purpose before they go out.

Is the Department confident that this is the right scheme at the right time? Does this legislation give the Minister the freedom to be able to tweak the schemes and adapt them as they go on? I fully appreciate the need to have them ready. I fully appreciate the need for us to assist with getting this done quickly. Has there been engagement with the people who those of us sitting here in Dublin 2 believe will benefit or potentially benefit from this? Does the legislation give the Minister the scope to be able to adapt the schemes as time goes on and the ability to tweak them in the interests of ensuring that the people who need them actually benefit from them?