Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There is a genuine balance issue here. Other members are either not accepting or have forgotten the reality that obtains when an economy loses competitiveness on the scale that we experienced for a period. I am referring to the impact of the collapse of businesses into which employers have put a lifetime of work and to workers being left high and dry following the collapse of a business into which they have put a lifetime of work. Those are genuine considerations. Economies must not refuse to recognise that competitiveness is part of being successful and that enterprising people are needed. Getting profits from one's enterprise is not some sort of error; it is what allows an enterprise to be successful, export, win new business and create wealth for everyone to share.

The question of balance the Minister of State is trying to defend is absolutely authentic. Ireland has the history to prove it. We went through long years when we failed to recognise the importance of enterprise of competitiveness, and we paid dearly for it. We have succeeded over several decades, despite the financial collapse, in building a balanced economy that can provide opportunities to introduce legislation like this and do other things that we could not do for years. People have to be conscious that having a provision that implies the competitiveness of our businesses and economic climate is important in deciding what new obligations we impose or rights we create is just sensible. Trying to stick our heads in the sand and say it is not part of the balance that the Minister is obliged to strike is short-sighted.