Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I wish to make a small contribution to this motion. I compliment the Labour Party on bringing this Bill before the House. I have never seen as many people in the Gallery before. The reason they are there is that businesses are under pressure. I was disappointed with the contribution of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform tonight, but perhaps I should not have been. The Government has only one interest, that is, the banks. It is not interested in businesses or people who are trying to create employment in this country.

We are here to legislate. We should be able to introduce the necessary legislation to deal with this rent problem. Many firms have gone out of business and we have lost thousands of jobs because of the rent situation in the country. The Government should govern , but the problem is that it is occupied by the banks and it only cares about ensuring that the banking institutions are saved. We should find ways to support and help small businesses. This is the area from which we will have to build up the economy. The big multinationals will no longer come into this country and we will come to depend more and more on firms consisting of two, three and four employees. What is happening at present? We are losing such firms on a daily basis. We do not see it on RTE and TV3 but such people make up the backbone of the economy.

The Government has shown the same attitude towards the Criminal Law (Home Defence) Bill. It referred the matter to the Law Reform Commission and various reports. We have more reports and more libraries filled with reports in this country than ever before. However, we need action to help small businesses under pressure and attack, which are trying to keep going but which are unable to survive. They cannot get money from the banks and they cannot get support from the Government. Local authorities believe they can continue to charge as before. The small businesses paid for benchmarking but charges continued to be placed on them and this continues to happen now with landlords. They kept prices up and people cannot pay. Jobs are being lost.

Governments are here to govern. The Minister referred to the need to impress upon people the need for confidence. The Government has lost its way. What is needed now is a general election. We need a new Government with new thinking and ideas because this Government has gone stale. Please God, in a short time to come, the Acting Chairman, Deputy Jack Wall, might become Cathaoirleach. He might be in the job with the gown around him because these guys have lost their way.

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