Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 30 June 2020

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response

Impact of Covid-19: SME Recovery

Mr. Derek Butler:

The Deputy will note on page 21 of our plan that we call for the implementation of a measure to help small businesses reduce their overheads. This plan is based on a principle of solidarity in that small businesses are vital to our social fabric. If we do not have a tool to help small businesses enshrined in legislation to reduce their rental costs at this time, it will only compound the losses and the fragility of small businesses. To be clear, at the moment there is very little to help small businesses reduce their overhead costs. Landlords, institutional and otherwise, need to play their part, not just based on solidarity but on the reality that we are also advocating for an "examinership lite" regime that will resolve this matter most likely in the favour of small businesses. Everybody has to play their part. I will hand over to Mr. Moran on the employment piece.