Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)

I thank Deputy Varadkar for introducing the Bill and welcome the fact that the Government has decided to accept it in principle. As someone who has been a Member in the Dáil longer than many others who have spoken, I am concerned at the Government's commitment to leave it for six months, which can often be elastic. Small businesses simply do not have the time. They require these issues to be dealt with as a matter of urgency. They require not only the passage of this Bill, but also to get cash circulating as quickly as possible and to be guaranteed that bills for services provided to Government, whether to Departments or agencies, are paid on time. One still hears of cases of agencies which are very slow to make payments.

There is not a scarcity of money as some people have made out. Credit unions and post offices have never had as much money as at present. The real problem is that while the Government has poured €7 billion into Allied Irish Banks, AIB, and Bank of Ireland, customers cannot get money out today. Before going to the Dáil for a vote I heard from a young man who is in business. He had a sizable loan with a small overdraft, but he was told today by AIB that the facility would be no longer available. I make no apology for mentioning the name of the bank concerned in the House because the Government and taxpayers are bailing out and supporting that bank. The Government must get agreement from the banks, whether AIB, Bank of Ireland, Anglo Irish Bank or whichever, that if taxpayers' money is being poured into them, they must provide a service and relieve small industry such that it can continue to work.

There is also a problem with costs generally. Deputy Reilly referred to businesses in Finglas competing with those over the Border, but let us consider the position for those in Cavan-Monaghan competing with businesses across the Border. People there have a choice and they need only travel a short distance. They can still live at home and start up a new business in Northern Ireland. Change must be made. The VAT issue was brought to the attention of the Minister for Finance between the budget and the supplementary budget. He admitted he made a mistake initially but when he introduced the supplementary budget he did nothing about it. I welcome the leeway the Government has given towards this Bill, but I refer again to the six month period in question. Small businesses cannot wait six months for the Bill to make progress or for more red tape. This should be sorted out as a matter of urgency.

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