Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)

Sinn Féin acknowledges that the Bill has some very positive elements but also warrants caution. For example, the removal of the ceiling in the High Court for applications from €317,000, which is the current level, is very positive because it lifts a significant or potential financial burden from taxpayers, which is a reasonable policy. We will leave it to the system and rely on the court to make proper decisions in that regard. I have outlined several other positive elements which I will not discuss.

It is interesting to note how quickly the Government can move when it decides to move, as it decided to move in terms of this Bill. I am reminded of an issue which I referred to briefly when I interrupted the Minister of State's contribution, namely, the regulatory burden for small and medium size enterprises. There is a significant difference between small and large companies. For a company which employes 12 to 15 people to employ a person to do the work of a clerk and assemble the figures for InterStat or whoever is a major burden if it is something which takes two days a week or five or six days a month. If one compares it to a company with 100 to 210 employees, which would probably have an information technology system in place where one can hit some buttons and assemble and send off the figures, it is clear there is a disproportionate burden in terms of administrative costs on small and medium size enterprises.

The Minister of State told us earlier that he hopes to have the Bill before the House in the autumn of next year to assemble and reform it-----

See this speech in context