Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I do not know the views of other Deputies but the feedback I get, particularly from smaller and family-run businesses, is that they struggle. The PRSI they pay is one of many costs in running a business. It is difficult to strike a comparison between this jurisdiction and other states because perhaps their VAT rates, rental or wage costs are lower. There is an overall context regarding the cost of running a business. The consistent feedback from businesses is they are barely able to cope with the level it is already at, and such a change would force them to let people go. It certainly would not encourage them to take on people. Our focus in recent years has been to create jobs and employment, as Mr. Ginnell is aware. When he advocates increasing PRSI, has he considered that it is one of a number of costs and that it cannot be compared directly with what applies in other states? One must consider whether the overall cost of running a business is very low. That is one aspect but I would be very concerned about advocating to increase that tax on business because of the potential impact on employment. There could be a loss of jobs as well as an obstacle to creating employment.