Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)

I, too, thank Deputy Leo Varadkar for bringing forward this important Bill at this time. I appeal to the Government - the benches opposite are unfortunately bare at the moment - not to stall this Bill for six months. The next six months could be vital. Many small businesses will go to the wall if this measure is not introduced quickly. Stalling this legislation for six months at this particular point does not make any sense.

Many small businesses are currently put to the pin of their collar to survive the economic crisis for which this Government is responsible in terms of its over-reliance on the building sector. Earlier, the Government, supported by members of the former Progress Democrats Party, Independents and the Green Party, won the vote of confidence. It will now claim it has a mandate for all it is doing, including stalling this important legislation for six months. As pointed out earlier, whatever mandate the Government has, the Green Party has no mandate. While they were elected on the basis of their opposition to Government and everything it did previously they later, for convenience of numbers, joined up with Fianna Fáil following the election. Calling that a mandate does not impress me or the many small businesses that are being forced to close.

The banks are refusing to make cash available to small businesses. The Government is not helping businesses to survive, many of whom are awaiting payment for services to, perhaps, State agencies, government or local authorities.

This money is sometimes expected as payment for services provided to State agencies and local authorities. Many small businesses are owed thousands of euro and this money is vital for their survival. The grants for adaptations for disabled persons and essential repairs for the elderly have not yet been paid for work done in County Galway since September 2008. The small builders who completed these projects are still waiting for the householders to pay them from the grants. Similar issues arise in respect of the farmyard pollution grants. The Government decided that projects under this scheme had to be completed before the end of September 2008 and that only 40% will be paid in 2009 and 2010, respectively, and 20% in 2011. How can any small business wait that long for payment?

We have encountered these kinds of problems on our canvass. Small business people took out their anger with all politicians even though the blame lies with the Government, which is now stalling this Bill for six months instead of accepting it and getting on with the job of releasing money to small businesses.

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