Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the opportunity to speak in this very important debate. We all have to concentrate our efforts in the days, weeks, months and years ahead on small business and employment. It is the key growth area for our economy and we know the vast majority of people in the private sector are working in small businesses. Many of these are single operators that may have a small number of employees, but people often do not realise that there are such active businesses in their area. However, these businesses are often keeping people in employment in cities, towns and in rural areas.

I am a little bit disappointed at the motion put forward by Fine Gael tonight. In recent times, it has begun to grasp the economic difficulties that the country is facing and it has been very responsible in its approach. After all we have been through with the banks, trying to get to the bottom of the reckless lending by these institutions, I am surprised that Fine Gael would put down a motion asking the Irish taxpayer to give a loan guarantee scheme for businesses that would involve risk sharing between the financial institutions-----

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