Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I compliment Deputy Perry, the small businesses' champion, for tabling this motion. When he becomes Minister responsible for this area, he will ensure small businesses will have every opportunity to survive.

I apologise to the Minister of State, Deputy Calleary, for not being in Ballina, County Mayo, last Monday for the recent jobs announcement there. My clinics are on a Monday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. so last week I had to attend to those with no jobs.

Several weeks ago Westport had good news from Allergan, an American company, which will invest €750 million in its local plant there. It is the company's largest and most profitable factory outside of California and when its board met in Westport recently, it complimented its wonderful workforce there.

The Government can make changes in several areas to support small and medium-sized businesses. During the boom, small businesses were ripped off by local authority rates. No matter the authority's budget requirements, the rates always rose. The Minister of State must give a directive to local authorities to reduce their rates by 10% for small businesses.

Recently when purchasing a major home product I had a choice between one made in England and one in Portlaoise. While I liked the former, I decided for the product made in Portlaoise, simply because it was Irish. Last year there was a problem with the VAT rate. Now with the VAT rate reduced, in the run-up to Christmas this year I urge people to shop local and buy local to keep their local small businesses viable. It also has a knock-on effect on the tax take and the State's ability to pay social welfare.

See this speech in context