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

Yes, very much so, and I fully appreciate the reality of what the Deputy outlined. I see this in small shops and businesses in my constituency, Dublin Central, and throughout the city of Dublin. I was in Mullingar on Friday evening and met many amazing local business people who employ so many people and are confronting the very kind of pressure the Deputy referred to. Of course, we will keep the scheme under review. The Tánaiste has also brought forward many different proposals and policies to help other energy users and I expect other Ministers will do likewise to help some sectors that are not part of this scheme. We will keep it under review, but I want to be candid to the House in saying this scheme, at €1.2 billion, is the single biggest measure in the budget, and I have a duty to the Deputy and the businesses she represents to ensure that any scheme we bring forward will be one we can afford if we need to sustain some measures for longer.

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