Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The whole thrust of Government policy is not to punish; it is to support. Any objective analysis of Government interventions to date would have to accept that was the case. The level of State intervention is unprecedented, and rightly so, because it is an unprecedented global pandemic.

Both schemes are being extended to April - that is the fact. The Deputy is talking about the rates. From 17 September, the PUP will be paid at three rates: people who previously earned more than €300 per week will receive €300 per week; if they earned between €200 per week and €300 per week, they will receive €250; and if they earned less than €200, they will receive €203. That is what was stated back in July and it will continue for a much longer period than originally envisaged.

We are not pulling the rug from under anybody with the changed rates. Also, in terms of different sectors of the economy, we have intervened and responded. This is unprecedented action in many respects, where the Ministers for Public Expenditure and Reform, Finance and Business, Enterprise and Innovation have to come together to devise schemes to support various sectors of the economy which through no fault of their own cannot get back up and running. We are aware of the issues facing the performing arts in terms of audiences not being available physically. We have to do everything we can to support that sector and the individuals working in it. That is our desire and our objective.

The Deputy spoke to me previously about taxi drivers. Those are areas that we are continuing to analyse. I know that the Tánaiste is doing so in respect of a range of individuals who may not be rateable, for example, in different self-employments. They pose challenges in terms of how one responds to the more complex issues arising for enterprises and so on.

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