Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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Of necessity, the underlying legislation and the Temporary Wage Supplement Scheme (TWSS) itself were developed having regard to the overarching, urgent Government objective of getting much needed assistance quickly to employers and employees, where businesses had been seriously affected by the pandemic and the necessary restrictions introduced to fight the spread of the Covid-19 virus. The evidence is that this objective was achieved; over 66,500 employers received a subsidy under the TWSS with payments worth just under €2.9 billion paid out to a total of 664,000 workers.

Regarding the extent to which the scheme might have anticipated circumstances as outlined in the details supplied, the legal framework and policy issues relating to statutory redundancy payments are matters, in the first instance, for the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and his Department.  Also, the question of an individual’s entitlements and rights in an employment context, are matters between the employer and the relevant employees and were outside the remit of the TWSS.