Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The wage subsidy scheme was introduced in that way because many companies had poor cash flows. In the first two weeks after the wage subsidy scheme was introduced and when there was some confusion as to the criteria, many people let their staff go, went onto the Covid payment and took their staff back knowing full well that the Revenue Commissioners were refunding the wages in real time. If someone was paid on the Monday, he or she was getting a refund from the Revenue Commissioners on the Tuesday.

I do not mean to be argumentative with the Deputy. I am not standing over or justifying anything. It is the current legislation and it is up to this House to change it if it wants to. The EU regulations governing employment rights are not just here for the PUP.

See this speech in context