'No way' to force profitable companies to repay State supports: Donohoe 

Finance minister says: 'I want these companies to recover'

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar; Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe; and Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael McGrath Picture: Sasko Lazarov / RollingNews.ie

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe says he does not have the legal ability to force companies which made profits while receiving State supports repay the money.

Tánaiste Leo Varadkar last week said that companies that availed of Covid-19 wage subsidy payments and which were in a position to pay substantial dividends should repay the supports after it emerged that a number of businesses paid dividends to shareholders while the State was helping them pay wages.