Feargal Quinn (Independent)
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I welcome Mr. Fielding. We know about the problems as we have heard about them before. It is interesting to hear his expression of confidence and belief that it is possible to get somewhere. Having confidence is so important. I have said before that there is far too much acceptance of the belief the Government, the council and somebody else should be doing something. I was in a partnership many years ago before I entered the House. I remember going to a meeting aimed at creating jobs and being stunned by the fact that practically everybody at the meeting said they had to get the Government to help, to get a State agency to help them, instead of doing it themselves, yet I see towns around the country in which individuals are actually working together. I was involved in a number of towns in recent years in which people did not even work together. However, when one got them to work together, one found that they could have a vibrant town that was exciting and could attract customers. I remember visiting one town in which people complained that they could not have the footpaths cleaned. They agreed to do it themselves. Perhaps they did not do it everyday, but they certainly did it on the days when the council was not doing a good job. A very large amount is in the hands of retailers themselves. That is why I particularly liked Mr. Fielding's remark about confidence growing. Traders on a street should be able to say they will not allow a shop to sit empty and say its use should be given to the local school or art club in order that, in effect, anybody walking down the street will not see empty shops. They will see shops that are vibrant and alive and that look as though they are doing something.

I have one other problem having regard to all of the solutions to the problem of parking. I have experienced this during the years. Whenever one does not charge for parking or whenever one makes it very easy to do so, owners and staff fill all of the places available. They arrive in the morning and leave their cars there all day. We did not find an easy solution to this problem and the answer probably lies in our own hands, by which I mean ISME's members and retailers around the country. Rather than say the Government should be doing this or that, a huge amount is in the hands of retailers. If they can do it themselves, they will achieve something. This applies to Internet shopping, in particular. Companies around the world and in Ireland are doing an amazing job. They are able to attract attention, but it does not happen by accident. It means somebody getting up in the morning and saying he or she is going to make sure it works. I believe ISME's membership includes a very large number of people who feel that way and will do it, but we must give them the support, openings and confidence they need.