Mr. Adrian Cummins:

There are 29 different inspecting bodies of some shape or form. Six years ago we were promised that it would be streamlined. For example, there is duplication of inspectors. One might come in to deal with environmental health, another to check grease traps in a business and another to check a smoking area, etc. Could all that not be pooled together to reduce the regulatory burden on our businesses? That would help because we find that there is always a cost associated with them as well as the time and paperwork to do it. We are not saying that everything should be got rid of but that there must be a better way of doing business and encouraging people to open a business.

At the moment, the rural economy has not taken off. It has taken off in tourism hot spots, but those who are not in a tourism area are not seeing a major recovery. Local authorities have a major part to play in this issue with regard to rates and the amounts being paid. We need to have a serious look at our local authorities to see if we are getting value for money and whether we can reduce the cost imposed by local authorities on businesses.

Those are some of the matters we would be advocating. We will play our part in creating more jobs. As I stated earlier, the vast majority of young people in the country will have their first job in the hospitality sector and more than likely in a restaurant as a waiter or waitress. Businesses will take them on but it will be transient employment. They will move on to become a solicitor or a doctor, etc., after their studies, but we are the first port of call for creating jobs.