Aubrey McCarthy (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank all the witnesses for being here today. I am involved in small businesses, including a family business, and know what it is like to run one.

I also have a restaurant and I am involved in the transport sector. A lot of what the witness said and the survey resonate. I probably took part in it as well. I thank the witnesses for being here today. I see Ms Harrison, whom I know from Wicklow, on screen. I have several social enterprises under a charity called Tiglin which has changed many lives through getting people back to work. It is interesting that there are no rates in the charity sector. It makes a huge difference. SMEs and small firms are bombarded with rates. I spoke this morning in the Seanad about the reports and statements and about the stark reality that more than 50% of the firms said they could not survive more than six months without further support, which is frightening. The Government supports at the moment seem not fit for purpose. With that in mind, what specific changes would the witnesses propose? Also, regarding employee costs, even with our own restaurant, there is the trajectory of the minimum wage and labour costs are topping all of the pressures. With the minimum wage trajectory, sick pay, which has been increased, and pensions becoming compulsory, are there ways to ease pressure for small firms that do not compromise workers' rights?

As my colleague, Senator Nelson Murray, said, the SFA survey, I think, shows a dramatic drop in borrowing. That is frightening - 81% of businesses did not borrow in the past two years. Does that reflect a lack of need or poor access to the banks? I am also on the housing committee; we are focusing on awful access. The access to capital is just not available. Regarding rates, which I started off with, on the review of rates, Senator Nelson Murray mentioned the new road around Navan and that a positive impact would be that rates would be suspended. Would the witnesses support a move towards something like a profit or turnover-linked rate scenario that reflects the ability to pay? Restaurants are facing huge insurance costs, a 96% increase in the price of beef, 94% in electricity and staff costs, etc. What policy interventions would the witnesses look for to help stabilise these cost pressures and help businesses to absorb them?