The programme for Government seeks to work to protect customers during and after Covid-19, with particular emphasis on business disruption insurance and supporting the Central Bank's direction on compensating businesses with disruption cover for infectious diseases. In recent weeks, FBD's attempts to deduct State supports like the pandemic unemployment payment, PUP, the employment wage subsidy scheme, EWSS, the Covid restrictions support scheme, CRSS, and rates waivers from the overall awards to its clients have been highlighted repeatedly in the media. I would like to hear from the Tánaiste on this matter. Will he detail how the State will ensure that supports provided by it will not be deducted and essentially pocketed by insurers? What steps would the State take in such an eventuality?

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. I heard the Minister of State, Deputy Fleming, speaking authoritatively on it a few weeks ago. The PUP is paid directly to the individual and should not fall into this at all. However, there is a basic principle that, when it comes to an insurance policy, one cannot be compensated for the same thing twice. That is why insurers will, in some cases at least, deduct Government grants from insurance payouts. However, that money should therefore be paid by the insurance company to the State. That is done with other insurance policies and we will pursue the issue.