Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

This amendment has been ruled out of order because it purportedly imposes a charge on the State on the basis that it provides for oversight of local enterprise offices by representatives of local authorities and business. Will the Minister explain where it is suggested in this relatively simple amendment that a charge to the State would arise? Many in the business community believe local authorities do not fully understand business, especially small businesses. Some local authorities, including Mayo County Council, are making serious efforts to make this model work, while others treat businesses as a charging centre for development levies and rates. They do not necessarily get business.

Under the service level agreement, the local enterprise office will be subject to the usual oversight at local authority level. This involves reporting to plenary meetings which are nodded through without much discussion. I want elected councillors from all parties and none to engage in oversight. There should also be some form of business input into an oversight board, particularly in the early years.