Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 5 February 2013

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Reform of National Micro and Small Business Support Structures: Discussion

2:15 pm

Photo of Feargal QuinnFeargal Quinn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister. The concept of incorporating the local enterprise boards into local authorities is sensible. I have been struck by the number of main streets in towns that have been devastated. The shops and businesses are empty because shopping centres have been built on the edges of towns. Yesterday Sir Terry Leahy commented on the issue and said it was a shame but that the move was driven by consumer demand. A local enterprise board incorporated into local authorities has a much better chance of solving the problem. The solution will not be easy and it is a difficult question to answer.

During consultations, many organisations represented small and medium-sized enterprises such as ISME, SFA, RGDATA, Retail Excellence Ireland and Retail Ireland. How was it possible to consult so many organisations? Was it done jointly or independently? How did the Department manage to get around the problem?

The third objective is to reduce the number of licences before encouraging new people to open a business. One objective is to dramatically reduce the length of time it takes to open a new business here. That time has been reduced considerably. Can the Minister touch on the steps that his Department can take to improve the matter?

Being paid on time is a great challenge for small enterprises. What has happened with timely payments, particularly State payments? Are we getting anywhere near solving the problem?

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