Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is a significant period as we approach the conclusion of the employment wage subsidy scheme. I remember very clearly the discussions that we had in 2020 with some of the officials from the Department of Finance who are present today. We got into very challenging discussions regarding what would be in and what would be out of the scheme. I remember the discussions we were having regarding sports clubs and voluntary organisations in buildings that might have a bar in them. We made the decision to have the criteria as broad as possible to facilitate businesses, not just those that Senator Casey knows well, but also organisations that may have had a few members of staff but would have had a bar that, in turn, provided the commercial revenue to help it to continue to fund its voluntary activities and look after its buildings, such as a rugby club or GAA club. I am very glad we did that.

If we look at where we are now, I hope the harshest economic effects of the disease are behind us. However, it would be a poorer Ireland if we found ourselves in a position where we had a hospitality sector that was not able to open up, or if we found sporting clubs and organisations across our country no longer with us or no longer viable. For all of those reasons, while the cost of these schemes was truly huge, and the employment wage subsidy scheme at times was €500 million a month, nonetheless, it was an investment in our future. That future is now opening up in front of us. I appreciate the support of the Senators for the 9% VAT rate.As I said, I really look forward to a good summer for our hospitality sector and a clear run for it into the early part of next year.