Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)

I welcome Deputy Varadkar's Bill. It is timely, as we have been at the end of an Irish version of one of the greatest pyramid schemes seen in any country. I come from a business background and have employed people over the years. We watched as costs rose, including rates, excise duties and the minimum wage. Most businesses were lured into a false sense of security to the effect that they never had it so good. Whenever Government or other charges increased, businesses passed the cost on to their customers, who believed they had enough money to pay. No one searched his or her pockets to discover what was happening because we were told three years ago that we had never had it so good and that we would have a soft landing. The landing has not been so soft and those who have really lost out are the 450,000 people who are out of work, have found themselves in negative equity and must curtail the lifestyles to which they had grown used. They may see no future.

Everyone, not just the Government, must try to get out of this downward spiral. This starts and ends with jobs. We must become competitive and examine what has occurred. In my business, I am considering whether to get rid of a telephone or the Internet, closing down for half a day on a Sunday because the cost of employing someone that day is too exorbitant or having one or one and a half people working instead of three. This is the situation across the country and, unfortunately, is being reflected in terms of real jobs. If a business is to survive, one must try to cut, cut, cut. Even though businesses have done this, most will not survive.

Is it not easier for Government agencies now to help reduce prices in a bid to stimulate the economy? Driving to Dublin by car costs €2.90 on the M4 and going to the airport costs €2. Something could be done, given the rows of traffic pulling in at Kinnegad onto the old back road to save €2.90, and rightly so. We must reduce tolls and fares to stimulate people into using motorways, which are safer.

The Government does not have much say in bank charges, but the banks have been bailed out and have curtailed credit to businesses. When businesses do not get credit, their overdrafts are reduced, which leads to a mad scenario. If I put my Government cheque into a bank, it will take five working days to clear. If it does not clear, I will be charged €10.15 for being over the limit. The knock-on effect of this is costing businesses thousands of euro. Government charges cost one small business located not far from me €2,000. When these cheques are not honoured, there is a knock-on effect further down the line.

I have raised this issue for at least one and a half years, but the Minister for Finance does not believe any serious problem has come to light. Wake up and see what is happening. When these businesses close, people will be unemployed. We will not be able to afford that. To make businesses competitive, the Government must cut its charges. Businesses have already done so and Departments must follow suit.

In some ways, the property tax is a way for local authorities to gain revenue. I have been approached by people from the UK who have houses there and are trying to keep their family homes in the west or elsewhere in Ireland open. Charging them €200 was lousy. They kept the country going. Seven or eight people from the UK told me of how they were trying to maintain houses, some of which were only sheds, and that they were being charged €200. Even when they enter the country they are being hit. Michael O'Leary of Ryanair could have opened more routes, but no. The Dublin Airport Authority and most other airport authorities are charging exorbitant landing fees.

Business must be done. People are selling two for the price of one and giving considerable discounts. The Government must examine how to provide further discounts. My colleague, Deputy Connaughton, highlighted the matter of school transport. Two years ago, transport for a junior cycle student cost €99 per year. The charge has increased by 203% to €300 and there is talk of it rising to €500. This will put people back on the road and undermine the future of school transport. Local authorities have tried to reduce their rates, but only after 12 or 15 years of adding 3%, 4% and 5%. Businesses could not afford the rates. We see what is happening in terms of petrol and excise. There was a tax rebate in respect of school transport, but we needed to get rid of it under European legislation. Operators were promised an amendment to the legislation or that some provision would be made to repay them. One and a half years later and they were virtually given the two fingers. They will pass on the cost to ordinary children and hard-pressed parents.

In terms of the way in which the Government has done business, I welcome the decision by councils in recent days to the effect that, where rental allowance subsidy is concerned, they might have been paying too much. Across the board, they have reduced the subsidy by 15%. This is a good idea. The Government controls the power, so it must start examining how it does business. Utilities are too expensive and rates and bank charges must be examined.

Last week, I visited England. I hope we are not following the UK model, which seems to be the case. On the high street in Cricklewood, various shops had closed. They employed people and provided services. The same is occurring in Ireland, as is evident if one drives through any small town or village. The way in which we have done business is over. The person who worked 100 or 80 hours per week is no longer there because he or she cannot afford these charges. Many businesses are being affected. When they close in ones, twos and threes, jobs are not lost in the thousands. Rather, they are lost in twos and threes in every town and village. We must be competitive and reduce our charges.

I commend the Bill to the House.

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