The Government has responded to the hospitality sector with various supports. There is no doubt that the employment wage subsidy scheme, EWSS, and Covid restrictions support scheme, CRSS, have been extremely helpful. However, the sector is on its knees and all the sectors providing associated employment are also in difficulty, including the entertainment industry, individuals and groups. The Irish Hotels Federation has contacted us all again.

Locally, the Seven Oaks Hotel in Carlow, on behalf of its members, and the Newpark Hotel in Kilkenny highlighted the other costs they are lumbered with. These are costs such as recruiting people from abroad and then having to put the recruitment on hold because they are closed down again. Then there is the loss of income, for example, of €140,000 in December for one hotel alone. Will the Tánaiste please look at the supports that can be given beyond the existing schemes in order that they can reopen again?

I thank the Deputy. We are going to have to do that, and we will do it. The Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, and I co-chair the hospitality forum. We are going to have to have more discussions about this in the new year. What we have done to help the sector through this difficult period and the new restrictions is that the commercial rates holiday will be extended until the end of the first quarter of next year, if not for longer. The employment wage subsidy scheme will be restored to the higher level of payment. The Covid restrictions support scheme is being extended to cover businesses that are fully closed such as nightclubs. The Deputy has put his finger on a real issue. The hospitality sector is severely restricted and facing into a very difficult period but has to bring in staff from overseas. There are businesses that cannot get staff. This shows how complex the problems we face now are. We are subsidising such employment, but the same businesses have to go abroad to get staff. It requires more comprehensive examination.