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A Cabinet meeting will be held on Tuesday to discuss the publication of a national economic recovery plan, T\u00e1naiste Leo Varadkar has said.<\/p>\nA Cabinet meeting will be held on Tuesday to discuss the publication of a national economic recovery plan, T\u00e1naiste Leo Varadkar has said.<\/p>\n
The Minister for Enterprise has signaled that supports such as the pandemic unemployment payment (PUP), the wage subsidy scheme and the Covid restrictions support scheme (CRSS) will continue.<\/p>\n
He said the Government\u2019s principle will be to ensure that as many businesses as possible can survive the pandemic.<\/p>\n
Mr Varadkar said: \u201cMy message really today is to Irish business and Irish workers, particularly saying to Irish business, that we\u2019re on your side and the Government has your back.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cOur domestic sectors have really struggled. Retail now just reopened, construction is just getting back on its feet. Hospitality is only about to partially reopen.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd, of course, the travel industry, the entertainment industry and personal services are all just recovering from the best part of the year, being closed.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey have needed a lot of financial support.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat will continue because we believe as a Government that the best chance of rapid economic recovery, the best chance of getting back to full employment, the best chance of avoiding the need for tax rises or spending cuts in the future, is to make sure that our economy bounces back, bounces back fast and roars back to life.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tuesday\u2019s Cabinet meeting will hear proposals from Minister for Public Expenditure Michael McGrath on how \u20ac900 million from the EU recovery fund will be used.<\/p>\n
Decisions will be taken in relation to the pandemic support schemes, Mr Varadkar said.<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cOf course the principle that we\u2019re going to adopt is doing all that we can to make sure as many businesses as possible survive this period ahead.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd that as many businesses as possible can take back as many of their stuff as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said any withdrawal of the PUP would be \u201cgradual\u201d and \u201cwill not start until people have had the opportunity to return to work\u201d.<\/p>\n
Currently around 25,000 people a week are coming off the scheme, in line with the expected trajectory, he said.<\/p>\n
Mr Varadkar said he was conscious that some sectors, such as nightclubs and live events, will not be able to reopen in the coming months.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want them to know that while we understand they\u2019d be disappointed tonight, they\u2019re not forgotten,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are going to make sure that there are plans for them to open as soon as that is possible in the months ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n