Dara Murphy (Cork North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the witnesses to the committee. I had a number of retail units and I come from a small business background. I am sympathetic to the witnesses. Having said that, it is important to note the Government has reduced PRSI in its brief term in office. In international terms Ireland is going up the charts as a place to do business. In comparison with many of our competitors, Ireland is now a cheaper place to conduct business. Commercial rates have not increased over recent years, with the exception of a couple of local authorities. Although the witnesses refer to destroying investment, despite the extremely difficult economic climate, the economy is experiencing modest growth. We should all be more careful in our language and when using terms like "destroying". I accept there are difficulties for people in the retail sector and we are hopeful improvements in foreign direct investment will trickle down to small business, which is the natural order of things.

Last week, representatives from the banks appeared before the committee in an extraordinary session and there was significant questioning about how banks are dealing with small businesses and lending.