Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We all agree with the measures that were introduced in the budget and the measures that are proposed in this grant scheme. However, I do not hear any response to the urgency of the situation. I am a bit concerned about that. It could be a wait-and-see approach. If we wait and see what the potential damage is, it may well be too late. That is what I would ask each of the Ministers to consider as a matter of urgency because there will be things happening in all of our constituencies at this particular time of year when there are many drawdowns on their finances. Businesses will be looking very seriously at their own viability in these circumstances.

I ask the Ministers to consider what else might be possible. The other possibility is that we will lose a large number of small businesses, and, perhaps, some that are not so small.

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