The Minister for Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform Paschal Donohoe has said that at the end of the 12 week introduction period he will be "tapering and changing" the Covid-19 pandemic welfare subsidies.
Mr Donohoe said the welfare subsidies "cannot be sustained indefinitely" but they can be sustained for long enough to allow incomes to be protected "for as long as possible".
The Minister said the Government wants to give the 40,000 companies availing of the Wage Subsidy Scheme "a fighting chance".
He said the Government wants to avoid cutting core social welfare rates and wants to protect public pay, but this it contingent on the global economy and Covid-19.