Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their presentations and the constructive discussion. A lot of information has been shared. I am sure we are all seeing, because I know I am, businesses that are under phenomenal pressure. These are small family businesses that would, over the years, have weathered a whole range of different storms but have now hit a perfect storm as a result of a whole range of pressures caused by wages, auto-enrolment, energy costs and many other things. The key point is that any move from here needs to take account of the need to support those businesses. During the pandemic, useful and positive supports were in put in place. They made the difference and were lifelines to keep businesses going that were vital at the time. The tax warehousing scheme was one such support. There was not the same level of take-up for all of those schemes that we might have anticipated. I hate the word "learnings" but I am trying to figure out if there are lessons or things to be taken from those earlier schemes and their take-up that we can apply to the forthcoming scheme. It is capped, it seems, at just over €5,000. I am not sure whether that amount will make or break some of the businesses that are on verge of closing. I am trying to figure out if there are lessons to be taken from the previous schemes.

Are the witnesses seeing the trends and the ways in which some sectors are being hammered and are under much greater pressure than others? Are the figures showing that the current level of business closures is far ahead of other years? Are the witnesses seeing a trend in that regard? We are seeing that in the hospitality sector in our areas but many other small, family businesses are also being impacted. Is that filtering through in the figures to which the witnesses have access or is the situation comparable with other years in respect of business that are, unfortunately, closing? I am trying to get a handle on what the witnesses are seeing and what is going to be applied to forthcoming supports that could help businesses under phenomenal pressure.