Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The increased cost of business grant scheme was introduced by the Government last year. It is a very good scheme, which closed at midnight last night, but there is a major loophole in it. Where businesses are renting from somebody else, the proprietor is paying the rates so those businesses cannot claim this business scheme. I compliment the officials in Tipperary County Council's revenue and rates office on their assistance to business but clearly, there is a loophole there with regard to people who do not own the building. On the other hand, the owner of the property who is paying the rates cannot avail of it because he or she is not running the business. There needs to be a meeting of minds here, and the scheme needs to be reopened for small businesses who badly need the supports. It is a good scheme and council officials are working hard with it but that needs to be changed. If the business is running in people's name, they should be allowed - once it is legitimate - to get the supports. In the other case, if the proprietor owns the business but is not running it, the money must go to support the business person who is trying to keep the doors open and is employing people, paying taxes and insurance and everything else. It needs to be tweaked. I have not got the same powers as Deputy McGuinness obviously but I would appeal that the scheme be reopened for another month at least to allow people to qualify.

See this speech in context