Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)

I move amendment No. 1:

To delete all words after "Dail Eireann" and substitute the following:

endorses the actions of the Government to support and develop business in the State through the current difficult economic cycle, and in particular

- commends the Government for its ongoing commitment to driving down the cost of doing business in Ireland;

- welcomes the undertaking in the renewed programme for Government to maintain a low rate of business taxation in this country;

- notes that the Commission on Taxation has made certain recommendations regarding broadening the tax base with a view to reducing local authorities levying charges on business;

- recognises that the Government has taken significant measures to mitigate the impact of energy costs upon business;

- commends the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government for calling on local authority managers to implement measures open to local authorities to support new or existing enterprises in their areas by, for example, reducing development contribution rates;

- commends the swift action taken by the Government in introducing the enterprise stabilisation fund and the employment subsidy scheme;

- notes the continued provision of large-scale funding to the bodies charged with enterprise development in the State;

- commends the Government for the strong focus on training and upskilling of those in the work force and those who have recently been made redundant;

- commends the continued investment in critical infrastructure in the context of the national development plan which will enhance the productive capacity of the economy;

- supports the actions set out in the Government's smart economy framework and its commitment to make Ireland a leading knowledge and innovation economy including the achievements of the strategy for science, technology and innovation which will strengthen further our performance;

- notes the number of initiatives taken by Government to strengthen national competitiveness and which will underpin future economic growth including the high level group on business regulation, which has already identified savings to business of €20 million per annum;

- welcomes the Government's determination to reform the way public services are delivered and to drive down the cost of providing those services; and

- looks forward to future export led growth and the continued strengthening and development of our manufacturing and services sectors.

I wish to share time with the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Finneran.

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