I announced the restart grant scheme two weeks ago. It has been allocated €250 million and further details of the scheme are to be agreed. I am bringing a memorandum to Cabinet tomorrow and I will announce the details following that meeting. There are a number of grants available. There is the business continuity grant, the trading online grant, the new restart grant we have just discussed-----

As I said to the Deputy, the restart grant is being brought in a memorandum to the Cabinet tomorrow. I will not be making any announcements on that grant until I get agreement of the Government.

In terms of the microfinance loan, that is available, with up to €50,000 interest free for the first six months and repayment free.

The credit guarantee scheme is a new scheme. We have not set the interest rate on that yet. That is subject to further negotiations with the bank.

I am happy to answer them now.

The Deputy cannot have it both ways.

Yes.

I thank the Deputy for raising those issues. It is recognised that the HSA will need additional resources to oversee compliance with the Covid-19 Return to Work Safely Protocol. It is also recognised that relevant officers of other Departments and agencies, together with the Health and Safety Authority, will need to oversee compliance. The necessary resources will certainly be made available to the HSA. I want to compliment the HSA on the work it has done in putting together the Return to Work Protocol. It has work…

The HSA has a number of inspectors.

I do not have the exact number to hand but it will have the necessary resources to carry out inspections and it has the necessary powers. The protocol that has been developed is very much about employers and employees working together in order that the right safety measures are put in place to give both staff and employers the confidence to go back to work. In fairness to a lot of employers right across this country, they closed down quickly to protect their staff and have been working very closely with the HSA. I …

The restart fund will be open next week. I know businesses that are anxious to open will want to access that fund as quickly as possible. It must get approval from the Government but I am satisfied that businesses will welcome this fund because I understand that they have overhanging costs from the shutdown. It will give them that leg up and the encouragement some of them might need to get started again. I would encourage all sectors to prepare for reopening, examine the protocol and determine what it means for eac…

I thank the Deputy for raising all of those issues. In terms of town planning, I certainly would encourage a partnership approach to town development. I agree with much of what the Deputy said regarding the need to create more activity in our town centres. The face of shopping is changing and, after the Covid-19 crisis has passed, I think we will find that more and more people are shopping online, which will have a direct, knock-on effect on the retail sector, including town-centre shops. We have been providing onl…

There were a good few questions there.

I extend my sympathies to the workers in National Pen who have lost their jobs. I appreciate fully how difficult the situation is for those involved and their families. Please be assured that Government supports are in place to help them through this time. I am especially aware also that at a time when mobility is restricted, employees do not have the same easy access to their support networks and representatives. I wanted to just say that. The IDA is working very closely with the company. Obviously, there is a pro…

I thank the Deputy for raising those issues. The protocol we launched on Saturday is a very good one. It provides a lot of information on how businesses can prepare to get back to work. They need to look at the things they have to do. For example, each workplace will appoint one lead worker representative. These representatives will be able to work with employers to ensure Covid-19 measures are in place. There is a lot of very simple stuff in it about washing hands, good coughing and sneezing etiquette and staying …

The Health and Safety Authority is an independent agency under my Department. This is at an early stage. I reassure the Deputy that when we get the request, if the HSA needs extra resources, it can have them. It also has access to HSE staff and the Workplace Relations Commission who can be transferred over. Health and safety officers from other Departments can go and work with the Health and Safety Authority.

That is not the job of the Health and Safety Authority.

There will be enough people to take the calls. Not every call requires an inspection but that is a matter for the HSA. The HSA will deal with every complaint it receives. It will decide whether an inspection is necessary; it will not be up to the Deputy or to me. The HSA is very good at this and has a good track record. I have made it clear and cannot make it any clearer that if it needs more resources, it will get them.

ICTU is in it too.

I sympathise with the workers in Debenhams. This is not an easy time for them. We will do everything we can to make sure that all the supports of the State are available to them. It may be at least some comfort that they are getting the full €350 unemployment payment but that is only temporary. Regarding the interventions-----