Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I also support Deputy Creighton's amendment which I think is sensible and rational. This is a difficult country for a small business. The turnover must be very dramatic in terms of businesses starting up and closing down every year. I would like to see comparisons with Europe. Not long ago, just short of 20% of restaurants in Dublin were closing down each year although, obviously, new ones were starting up as well. That is a dramatic figure. The State needs to consider facilitating small businesses more and helping them stay in business in a more proactive way.

The Minister made two points with regard to allowing companies to provide some of the expertise. He said that many of them do not have it and that if they were directors, they would obviously be biased regarding how the process would proceed. There is merit in those two points, particularly the second. Some companies employing between 20 and 100 people do not have the expertise but more of them do. Some of the companies that do not have expertise have access to it. A company using its own auditor for ten or 15 years will have built a relationship with him. That professional would very likely be keen for the company to survive because there is business in it for him. I am sure he would be prepared to work for a smaller fee than some stranger the examiner might bring in. Giving the company in trouble an opportunity to supply some expertise, be it inhouse or through an independent professional with whom it has a relationship, would be a very helpful addition to the Bill.

Most of us agree with Deputy Timmins that we are better at helping larger companies than smaller ones, as has been borne out in recent years. I ask the Minister to take Deputy Creighton's amendment on board.

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