John Lyons (Dublin North West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I would like the witnesses to make a couple of practical suggestions about how the level of red tape and regulation might be eased. I am aware that some successful work has been done in this regard under the Action Plan for Jobs. I understand that multiple licences have been joined together in one place online, for example. Can we be given some more practical examples of what might be done?

I would like to pick up on something that was mentioned by Deputy Calleary. As an outsider looking in, I genuinely think some small retailers in Ireland are not at the races when it comes to the reality that information technology is an essential part of the way we do business today and will be the way we do business in the future. We will go to our towns and villages for a shopping experience, but we will not do all our shopping on the high street. We will go there when we want certain added extras, but that might not be what we do during the week when we want to buy things. When I was recently looking to buy some new pendant lamps for the house, I had to go to the large multiples even though I would have been more than happy to support more local people if I could have. The point I am making is that in a certain sector of society, new jobs are being created in remote servicing technology, which involves examining people's businesses and their existing websites.

Those involved in business sometimes think it is enough to have a website. They do not appreciate that the website is a virtual shop window. As the witnesses know, businesses have to change their shop windows depending on who they want to attract and what they want to sell. I suggest that with the exception of the large chains, Irish retailers are just not at the races. The reality is that people like me - people of all ages, but particularly younger people - end up buying products from outside Ireland because that is the way we shop. I will make a final point before I conclude. I know I have taken up a bit of time. All of the other things mentioned in the witnesses' report, such as the rates issue and the enhancement of our streets and civic spaces, are all great - I almost get the sense that they are seen as things we should be doing, but many retailers are not focusing on the information technology sector. I know it costs money. I suggest it is a case of whether one can afford not to invest in it, rather than whether one can afford to invest in it.