Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There is an issue. The most fundamental thing is to create employment opportunities in our economy. Most people want to be at work. The Deputy nodded in affirmation that the hospitality and retail sectors have been on to him. The first people to lose out if costs become unsustainable are those very vulnerable and low-paid workers he was talking about, because it will mean fewer people being hired. Of all the insolvencies this year, quite a significant percentage have occurred in the hospitality and retail sectors. There is a need to endeavour to understand what has led to that. I acknowledge there will be different factors. There is a need to absorb the information and endeavour to respond to it, which in fairness we have by way of the number of supports we are giving to businesses, particularly smaller businesses.

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