Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for his forbearance. We on this side of the House wish to obtain as much information as possible. However, the Chair's interpretation is the correct one.

The Joint Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment has completed a study on the situation of small businesses in towns in the Dublin commuter belt. That report, including 12 recommendations, will be submitted to the Tánaiste next week. We hope those recommendations will be implemented. One of the greatest obstacles and sources of frustration for small businesses is the perceived level of regulation and bureaucracy. Many owners told us their businesses were being strangled by it. Is there any way that a single, simple, unified form can be introduced that would facilitate persons in meeting all regulatory requirements, including in regard to tax, submissions to the Chief State Solicitor's office and so on. The latter sends out forms every month that must be filled. Small businesses employing only one or two staff are obliged to employ a bookkeeper for half a day per week to deal with all the regulation requirements. I agree with the Tánaiste that it is small and medium-sized enterprises that will drive a recovery in the economy in the next three to five years. However, such enterprises will not thrive if they are strangled at birth through the imposition of excessive regulation.

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