At yesterday's meeting of the Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party, the Minister, Deputy Michael McGrath, informed us that more than 90% of people who had initially claimed the pandemic unemployment payment, PUP, have now signed off that payment. There was also a great deal of discussion around the reduction in the employment wage subsidy scheme, EWSS, in particular for the hospitality sector. While the Government is no longer in the business of restricting particular activities, it is recommending to people that they reduce their social activities and this is inevitably impacting on those businesses. Is the Tánaiste, with his colleagues in government, considering extending the EWSS, perhaps in a more targeted way, to affect those sectors I have outlined?

I want to acknowledge that even though the Government has not closed any hospitality businesses, hotels, restaurants or bars, nor have we advised against international travel, the reality is that the public health advice has caused people to behave in a certain way, which is the way we have asked them to behave. I hate the word "behave"; perhaps "act" is a better word. That has had a negative impact on the hospitality sector, tourism, aviation and events such as pantomimes. In a large number of areas, people are experiencing very significant cancellations. That is a real worry because, for a lot of those sectors, December and the Christmas period is their harvest time. It is the time they make money that helps them get through the rougher parts of the year. I understand that and we want to help those sectors.

I should point out, however, that the EWSS costs the Irish people €400 million a month. Most of the companies on that scheme are not in the hospitality, aviation or arts and entertainment sectors. Anything we need to do has to be targeted.

Thank you very much, Tánaiste. The time is up.

The EWSS may not be the best way to do it, but we will do something for sure.