Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am happy to give that commitment to the Deputy today. How we realise that commitment and what form it takes will depend on the advice we receive today from NPHET. It did not make sense to the Government to announce a set of financial supports for businesses on Tuesday, only to receive advice from NPHET on Thursday and then change supports again on Friday. It made sense to wait to see what the advice from NPHET is today. We will do that.

I acknowledge the truth in what the Deputy said, which is that even though we have not closed any businesses, people are voting with their feet. A huge number of bookings have been cancelled in restaurants and bars, as have a large number of parties and events. People are even cancelling trips away, in the country and abroad. That is having a significant economic impact on those businesses and workers. For the hospitality sector, Christmas is the harvest. It is the time businesses essentially make money to get them through a tough period, usually in the early part of the new year. The Government recognises that, but exactly what we do regarding EWSS, PUP, the Covid restrictions support scheme, CRSS, commercial rates and all those things has to be targeted. We are at the point where we will be able to make decisions in the next couple of days.

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