Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Michael McGrath presents the concept that the presence of cash reserves would in some way debar a company from participating in the scheme. I do not believe that will be the case. I think it is very possible that companies will have cash reserves, precisely for the reason the Deputy refers to, that they have costs coming up that they know they need to meet.

I will be relying on the Revenue Commissioners to implement that. I am confident that they will. For the benefit of all Deputies, I want to say on the floor of the House that the only organisation to decide who will be included in the scheme, how they will be evaluated and what subsidy they will receive is the Revenue Commissioners. The only organisation any companies or practitioners that have views regarding who should be included in this scheme once it is up and running should contact is the Revenue Commissioners. It is appropriate for such companies to come to Members of the Dáil with questions about policy but they should not come to Deputies with questions about the operation of the scheme but rather to the Revenue Commissioners. Such companies can deal with them.

The risk that Deputy Doherty described exists. We increased the pandemic payment to €350. We did so because those who are without work due to this virus should not be forgotten about at a time when we are introducing a scheme to keep more people in work.

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