John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is easy for the Deputy to come with all the solutions and all the answers. His party was long enough in government and it did nothing about these matters. We have an understanding, concern and respect for business and we are in touch. We know only too well that the issue is about getting the banks to lend. It is not that simple to get money to small business because there is also the issue of their viability. It is an issue of confidence and raising the confidence of the public. When the Deputy and his colleagues come into the House and are pessimistic every day of the week, it does not build confidence among people. Irish exports are at an unprecedented level. I meet business people all the time. They are not as pessimistic as the Deputy makes out that they are. He must remember that during the boom in the economy we had 13,000 sq. ft. of retail area per head of population compared with 1,000 sq. ft. per head of population in the UK. That is the backdrop from which we are coming in terms of the leases. It would be no harm for us have some straight talk.

On that point, before Deputy Ross came into this House, he talked about monetary policy and fiscal policy. He was the man who said that Seánie FitzPatrick was the best man who ever came into town. That was monetary policy. The Government is doing its best to deal with fiscal policy.

I can assure the Deputy that Mr. John Moran, the Secretary General of the Department, and the Minister for Finance have put together a very comprehensive package in the Bill for SMEs. This Government has an understanding and respect for business and is providing a service for SMEs. In the previous Administration it was all about the big cats. We are dealing with the small SMEs who employ one or two people.

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