Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. We all appreciate that this is being done at breakneck speed. We appreciate the objective, which is laudable, and we all want to work towards its achievement, of having a wage subsidy scheme that retains employees on the books of businesses rather than going for social welfare payments. What Revenue published online tonight, as far as I can see, is 13 pages of frequently asked questions. It refers to soon to be published detailed guidelines. When will we have the detailed guidance? The questions that we are being asked and which we are asking the Minister can hopefully be answered in those detailed guidelines. On the question of the inability to pay, there are real issues which we expect will be answered in those detailed guidelines. Deputy Nash raised the point that businesses could set money aside for things they really need to do and investments they really need to make in plant, equipment and so on. With regard to an unincorporated business, a self-employed person who employs others, will Revenue just look at the business accounts of that self-employed person or his or her personal accounts? These are real issues and employers will not take the risk because the consequences of making a declaration that Revenue ultimately finds to be unwarranted means a refund of that money, interest penalties, and a potential offence under the taxes legislation. Many experts are already advocating for people not to apply for the scheme. That is not what we want to happen. We want to retain this connection.

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