Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Many pubs known as "wet pubs" in south Kildare and north Laois have been closed for almost six months. More than 3,500 wet pubs across the country remain closed. Ireland is the only country in Europe where this is the case. September marks not only the sixth month of closure for wet pubs but also the end of a moratorium on mortgages. This will mark the entry of many pubs into mortgage default and an inevitable slide for some into the oblivion of permanent closure. More needs to be done if these businesses are to be saved. Obviously, we want them to be saved. We need to find a way for our rural pubs in particular to reopen. Many people would have been happier if we had locked down international travel as well as we have locked down the pubs.

The measures contained in this Bill will assist in the eventual reopening of the pubs. Not so for the new employment wage subsidy scheme introduced this week, which has done little to help the already struggling businesses. I know of many publicans in my constituency who have had to let staff go as a direct result of the reduction of the subsidy. This scheme cuts support by 50% for most employees and removes all support for the lowest paid workers. Even low-paid workers make their contribution. If they lose their job, they lose their spending power. Talk about kicking workers and small businesses when they are down. Worse still is the confirmation from Revenue that employers will be waiting up to six weeks to receive payment of payroll subsidies under the revised scheme, placing added pressure on employers and workers. For the most affected sectors and businesses, this will lead to more job losses.

There is a risk of being penny wise but pound foolish. There will be a much more negative impact on the Exchequer if thousands of businesses go under and thousands of workers lose their jobs. It is fast becoming a matter of survival. Small business owners need proper support and not sympathy. I welcome the fact the Government has stepped back from the draconian proposal to allow gardaí to enter people's homes under this Bill. For many, this was a step too far.

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