Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. McCoy and Mr. McDonnell for coming before the committee today. To pick up on what Deputy Cullinane said about Mr. McDonnell's comment, I too find it to be an extraordinary comment. I want to put on the record in the first instance that I have huge respect for small businesses. I come from a small business family. It is incredibly difficult and people work incredibly hard. The risk and endeavour that small businesses and entrepreneurs have to go through, not just now but all of the time, in setting up, getting cash and paying employees month after month is extremely difficult and I have huge respect for the sector.

I have a number of questions about the submission from ISME. I have to draw attention to the comments made to Mr. McDonnell by a senior trade union official and a senior civil servant that small business is bad and big business is good and that small business owners fiddle their expenses. I find that to be an extraordinary statement to make to the committee. Does Mr. McDonnell want to provide any background to that statement? It is an exceptional statement to make.