Fianna Fail TD Noel O'Flynn has called on his Government counterparts to consider implementing a 'Stay at Work' scheme in an effort to sustain small and medium sized enterprises. Deputy O'Flynn's proposal would see the social welfare payment which would go to a person on a three day week, and an additional €70 be given to firms to keep that person on for the additional two days.

"I am well aware from talking to business people that many small firms are facing a situation where their business has contracted by between 20 to 40 percent over a six month period. Small business has been hit in Ireland with the equivalent of an economic tsunami, and the Government must act to stop the haemorrhage of Irish jobs," he said.

To ensure that there is no abuse of the scheme it would be limited to a three month period and could only be availed of once by the participating firm. "The Governments priority now must be to keep people working, the scale of the downturn means that we are no longer looking at job creation but job retention. Government must act to protect jobs help small firms and most of all support peoples dignity," he added.

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