Dáil debates

Tuesday, 21 February 2012

4:00 pm

Photo of Enda KennyEnda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

However, he wants to ignore this type of thing.

As Deputy Higgins knows, a job can transform a life and give a person a new sense of dignity, a new challenge and excitement about living and playing one's part in contributing to the local economy. The loss of TalkTalk in Waterford was devastating for many people. It may not create as many jobs, but it has been replaced by an Irish company which will do a very good job employing people in Waterford. This is the type of opportunity we need to take, and we need to change the rules and regulations which restrict small business from expanding. This is why we appointed a Minister of State with responsibility for small business to deal with this. Last week, we launched the jobs action programme, the implementation of which will be overseen by the Department of the Taoiseach.

I do not mind having regular conversations about this with Deputy Higgins. Some day he might actually come in with a good proposition. If he does, he can be sure the Government will listen to it, and if it is worthy of being acted upon, it will be. Our priority is to grow opportunities for small and medium enterprises in order that they can grow local economies and employ local people and give them the chance to live and work in their own areas. This was the purpose of 350 businesses coming to the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham yesterday to speak to their counterparts about opportunities, about which they are excited, to grow and export and, as a consequence, to increase our economy. I am sure this is where Deputy Higgins's focus is in reality.

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