Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 October 2020
54. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to reports that the full value of the employment wage subsidy scheme supports are not being provided to staff of an airline (details supplied); if he has engaged with the airline regarding such reports; if he will provide clarity regarding staff entitlements to back pay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28988/20]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that under Section 851A of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997, Revenue is precluded by reason of its taxpayer confidentiality obligations, from providing any details in relation to the company in question.
The Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) replaced the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) from 1 September. To qualify for the EWSS, an employer must have tax clearance. An employer will also be required to demonstrate to the satisfaction of Revenue that its business will experience a 30% reduction in turnover or in customer orders in the period between 1 July and 31 December 2020 and that Covid-19 is the cause of this disruption. An employer will have a monthly ongoing obligation to review its eligibility for the scheme.
To ensure that the EWSS scheme is operated as intended by employers, Revenue will undertake an assurance check programme at a later date.
Questions relating to an individual’s entitlements and rights in an employment context, what wages an employer may be legally obliged to pay employees in respect of hours worked and an employer’s capacity to pay wages to employees in light of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the employer’s business are all matters that are outside the remit of the EWSS.
I wish to emphasise that the information outlined above relates to the general operation of the EWSS and does not relate to any one employer or a small group of employers within any one industry.
