Pádraig Ó Céidigh (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Níl ann ach cúpla nóiméad mar táimid anseo ar feadh an lae. Labhair an finné Gaeilge, le cúnamh Dé. Tá sé ceart go leor. Bhí sé an-deas an Ghaeilge a cloisteáil arís agus chualamar níos luaithe inniu, freisin go raibh sé ag labhairt Gaeilge. Déanaimid iarracht go ndéanfar an oiread Gaeilge a labhairt sa Teach chomh minic agus is féidir.

I thank my colleagues on the Seanad Public Consultation Committee for their support in bringing this important area of SMEs in Ireland to the fore. The SME sector comprises three perspectives, namely, the owners' perspective, the regional perspective and the national perspective. Without the committee's support we would not be here. As I said earlier, this is the first time that SMEs have enjoyed such a public forum to air concerns in public and bring a cohesiveness to the debate. There are many similarities between all of the witnesses have said. We have heard some interesting ideas and thoughts that we would not have got in another forum or format. I thank the witnesses for their presentations and comments. We have had 15 organisations and businesses with about 20 different contributors, which is quite significant.

I thank my colleagues who came here and contributed, some of whom are not members of the Seanad Public Consultation Committee. I thank Ms Doody and Ms Judge for their assistance. They are the key to helping us to make these meetings happen. I thank my personal assistant, Cáit Nic Amhlaoibh. Níl fhios agam bhfuil sé ansin, Cáit. Go raibh maith agaibh.

I thank Dr. Majella Giblin from the National University of Ireland, Galway. She is helping us to co-ordinate and put everything together in a structured and professional manner for what we believe will become a robust document. Hopefully, it will help with the roadmap going forward. I know that the witnesses and their colleagues will help implement all of that.

Finally, I thank the Cathaoirleach. He has supported me in this endeavour from day one. I publicly acknowledge and appreciate his support. Go raibh míle maith agaibh.