Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is a pity that we are bound by what Big Brother in Brussels decrees. While I disagree with the decision the British took a couple of weeks ago to cut themselves off from Europe, I can see why millions of British citizens voted the way they did. That is the type of reply, with no disrespect to the Minister, that drives people crazy. It drives the public mad, if any member of the public is watching us this morning, to be told this, day in day out. Since the day I was elected to a county council I have been hearing this, that we have to put a stamp on eggs, to charge schools for water, to do this and do that because it is in line with European decrees.

In response to the proportionality argument, what the Minister has said and the officials have set out on paper for him does not stand up because 10% is 10%. A fixed charge of up to €50,000 is a fixed charge. We propose a maximum of 12% across the board. I will raise this with the CER before we break for the summer. It depends on who sits on the commission. Some of these bodies can be very far removed from us, never mind the public. The people appointed may be good but giving somebody that power without making it proportionate for small companies is very dangerous.

In regard to the appeal to the court the Minister and everybody in this House knows that the court is very difficult. We have all experienced, or seen our constituents experience, injustices and we do not have the wherewithal to go to the Four Courts. I do not and neither does somebody on the minimum wage or trying to run a small business.

The courts are already chock-a-block with work. They are flying through work every day. There is access to the court, and there is a financial burden, but there is also the question of the administration of the Courts Service. We should be keeping work away from the courts. I am pressing the amendment.