Garret Ahearn (Fine Gael)
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I wish to follow up on what many speakers said about our meeting last week with Facebook and the contribution from Isabella Plunkett about her experience in recent years working for Facebook. Many of the questions that have been asked today should be asked of Facebook. Chairman, could we invite in Facebook to ask those questions directly because their employment is really a matter between Facebook and the employees? Based on some of what the Tánaiste said in his contribution at the start of the meeting, it will be a difficult meeting with Facebook. It emerged at this morning's meeting of the Joint Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment that Twitter plans to take a legal challenge to the online safety laws.

That just shows the challenge we have with some social media companies. I do not expect the Tánaiste to comment on the matter, given that the announcement was made only in the past hour. Twitter stated that one of the reasons it is taking the legal challenge is that it will set a precedent across the world, which seems to be a strange argument.

On Shannon Airport, the Tánaiste stated that a number of political parties pushed for stronger measures. I have seen that in my county, Tipperary, where two political parties, and one party leader, pushed for stronger measures, whereas now they are calling for answers in regard to why Aer Lingus has taken this step. Has the Tánaiste spoken to Aer Lingus? Have we got any reassurance regarding the strategic routes, particularly that from Shannon Airport to Heathrow? I think that route is up for review in about one year's time. Have we any reassurances the routes will remain? It is a significant concern for the general public in the mid-west.

On the new scheme the Tánaiste announced this week, namely, the small business assistance scheme, I am surprised it has not been raised more often during the meeting, although my colleague, Deputy Stanton, mentioned it. This is something that the Members of both Houses have been calling for over the past nine months. They have asked whether something could be done for businesses that are not rateable premises. It is very welcome that we are doing it. While it is small money, it will be very significant. I am delighted that it will, I hope, be open for people to apply on Friday or if not then, early next week. Is the grant a straight €4,000 or do businesses have to show what fixed costs they have?

The closing date for the first round was 21 April. I am aware of a number of businesses in County Tipperary - I am sure there are many throughout the country - that did not apply for the first round. They were essentially closed in recent months and, for one reason or another, thought they could not apply until after they began reopening, which occurred after the closing date for applications. Is there any measure the Department provided last summer, such as the restart grant, whereby businesses could apply for the first restart grant when they apply for the new grant? Is there any way in which businesses might be able to apply for the first small business assistance scheme at the same time that they apply for the second one? The closing date was 21 April and if businesses are reopening, it would give those that for whatever reason might not have applied for the first round the opportunity to apply.