Ms Aoife McBride:

Fair enough; I understand the Deputy is asking me to get back to the point. I have points to make. First, rates breaks in the town could be encouraged. I live in Killarney, but my grandfather's business is in Killorglin. Every second shop is closed. The rent costs are what they are but no one can pay them so no one can start a business. Minimum wage should also be by sector and region. Why is it set at a blanket rate for all of Ireland? That makes absolutely no sense. If the VAT rate cannot be reduced because it affects so many different sectors, why can funds from the big players not be diverted down to the micro, small and medium businesses? I do not want it to be seen as others having to support my industry for it to exist. I should be able to run my business. I work hard and I should be able to run it without being subsidised. It is a diversion of the VAT we are already paying. We pay the highest VAT and we have the lowest wages. What is going on? How are we supposed to make this business work? I do not understand.