Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister's reply. He is right. This was a critical support at the time of the response to Covid. It helped businesses through a very difficult trading period. The environment is not as challenging as it was during Covid but it remains very challenging for businesses. We have high energy costs, the increase in VAT, auto-enrolment, sick pay and the increase in minimum wages. Some of these are very positive in their own right but they are all coming together at the same time and making it very challenging for businesses currently.

I welcome the fact that flexibility is going to be forthcoming but we need certainty. Businesses need certainty as to what that flexibility will look like. We need to ensure that the interest rate is kept as low as possible and there is an extension for as long as possible. The key here is that sustainable businesses are given a lifeline to ensure they can continue and protect jobs.

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