Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

I am sure Deputy McGrath is aware that the main reason ISME was dissatisfied with social partnership was that it was opposed to benchmarking. Small business is the backbone of the economy. Most businesses are small and most people who work in the private sector are employed by small businesses. Equally, businesses established by foreign direct investment are extraordinarily important because they account for 70% of our exports and an even higher percentage of our corporate taxes. It is not a question of "one or the other". Many large businesses have helped to generate smaller supply businesses.

Social partnership includes representatives of the tourism and construction industries. The Small Firms Association has 8,000 members and the chambers of commerce have 11,000 members. I do not agree with the claim that the voice of small business is not represented. I would welcome the participation of ISME in the social partnership process. We came close to achieving its inclusion some years ago, but it did not transpire because ISME was not prepared to participate if it could not be involved in pay negotiations. I look forward to the day when it can participate.

Everything we have done — reducing the burden of tax, minimising the amount of regulation, developing our infrastructure, decentralisation and making things happen in the regions — has been done with a view to helping small businesses.

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