Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)

I congratulate Deputy Varadkar on bringing the Private Members' Bill to the floor of the Dáil. It may be an indication of the usefulness of Private Members' time and of the Parliament in getting involved in constructive work as opposed to some of the more facile debates we have from time to time on the serious issues affecting small businesses.

As has been expressed by my colleagues, the Government is in broad agreement with the general objectives underlying this proposal. We are acutely aware of the concerns of small businesses in Ireland, in particular those businesses that are adversely impacted by the current economic and banking crisis. I have already stated, as has every Deputy, that there is an onus on the banks. There is a new relationship with the Irish banks under the recapitalisation programme and the bank guarantee programme to ensure there is a flow of credit to small and medium sized businesses.

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