Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)

I welcome this important debate. The Minister comes from a very different background from mine. She has a political background, whereas I have a business background. Political futures are uncertain but the future for small business is certain. It consists of turning the key in the door.

I am from a town like any other small town. It had pubs, shoe shops, newsagents, butchers and so forth. Most of the people in those premises worked up to 70 hours per week, with barely a return. My business in Boyle will be 100 years old next year and I am just keeping it going for family pride and the fact that my mother, who is 80 years old, has worked in the shop for 65 years. From the outside the business appears to be making money, but it has been losing money in the last two or three years because of high costs and rates. I have a very dedicated and honest staff but the business will not survive unless I invest in it. Today I went to the Revenue Commissioners to pay €3,700 in VAT, which was two or three weeks late. I had to take the money out of my own account.

That is happening throughout the country. The Revenue Commissioners eventually will close down businesses. Granted the money is owed but the businesses do not have the money. However, there is a pride among the businesses. They have used up most of their cash reserves and in the next six months many more of them will go to the wall.

Look at what is happening as a result of the VAT changes in Northern Ireland. I can point to the experience of two ladies who left Manorhamilton to go shopping. One went to Enniskillen while the other went to Sligo. One went to Asda and Marks and Spencers. She spent an hour trying to park her car. Eventually when she could not she returned to Manorhamilton. Her friend who went to Sligo was back within an hour. There is a frenzy and the Government has done nothing to avert it. Unless something is done, we will be left with just bookmakers' premises and hairdressing salons on the streets of our small towns.

My mother has worked all her life. If the clothes shop closes, she will probably get the pension and some social welfare payment. She does not wish to do that, like most of the proud shopkeepers and business people throughout this country. They have been hammered by this Government for the last 11 years. They have not been protected. The sooner something is done for them the better. These are the people who invest in their communities, schools, sports clubs and so forth. If they go, there will be nobody to take up the slack.

This issue is about customer loyalty. It is also about the Government not hammering small businesses, as has happened in the last 11 years. There must be some protection for these businesses to ensure they can prosper. They will not prosper in the next six months. When they close their doors the social welfare system will have to pick up the tab. That is already happening.

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