Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Over the past number of weeks, Deputies have been inundated by business owners who are struggling to keep their doors open throughout the country. If some of them are to survive, they need to get the energy subsidies for bars, cafes and restaurants released before Christmas. I even had an accountant on to me in the past few days who has quite a lot of these businesses on his books. He had to actually pay one of their energy bills this week to keep the door open. We need a proper discussion here in the Dáil this week. These subsidies are not supposed to be paid until 23 February next year. For many businesses, this will be too late. They will be gone for good. Can we have a debate here this week to release this money earlier?

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