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

The pandemic has taken a terrible toll on many businesses and livelihoods right across various sectors in the economy. The Government has committed an unprecedented level of financial supports to keep businesses afloat and save jobs. The Senator referenced the employment wage subsidy scheme, which was introduced on 1 September. This replaced the temporary wage subsidy scheme and it addresses one of the biggest overheads that any business faces on a weekly basis, which is the wage bill. This Government is underwriting the wage bill of so many businesses in order to protect them and the livelihoods of the employees relying on them. The Government also reduced the VAT rates from 23% to 21% and from 13.5% to 9%. The Covid restrictions support scheme, CRSS, is also available for businesses that have had to close their doors.

The Senator's query relates in particular to Iconic Newspapers and the request made before Christmas for €2.5 million to the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Deputy Catherine Martin, and I cannot answer that question. I give an undertaking that I will raise it with the Minister today and revert to the Senator.