Michael D'Arcy (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will not repeat what has already been said. Senators Kieran O'Donnell and Horkan are exactly right. This scheme was designed to try to help smaller companies hold on to important staff. This is a real issue, particularly in rural Ireland. Bigger companies with 3,000, 4,000 or 5,000 members of staff are able to pay higher wages so this is a method through which we can try to help the smaller companies hold on to their staff. I have no knowledge of the IBEC issue so I will not comment on it. I do not know. I am not going to commit to saying anything on whether the amounts are too high; I do not know. What I will say is that all the figures are analysed and scrutinised as the year progresses. I have answered all of those questions.