Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his response. He can imagine the frustration of business people and entrepreneurs who are successful, who have created jobs, who have taken the risk and who put their valuable time, which they do not really have, into producing a report. The report was presented in a clear and cogent manner and there is no rubbish associated with it. However, they now are being told their views are being assessed. These are people who have walked the walk. This concerns the frustration of the business community in respect of getting involved in a project like this. The proposals probably now are being assessed by numerous interdepartmental committees in the traditional sense. Is there not an argument for implementing the report, given that the recommendations come from people who know what they are talking about and who have the experience?

I have a number of specific queries in this regard. One recommendation was that sharing of maternity leave would be allowed between partners. However, this proposal was voted down by Government parties when Fianna Fáil introduced a Bill on this issue last year. Second, the report by the Entrepreneurship Forum was scathing in its remarks on personal guarantees and their use in lending. However, the pillar banks are still using and frankly abusing personal guarantees. Third, there was a specific recommendation that Ireland could become a European trade hub for China. What has happened since January to further this recommendation? In particular, I am anxious to ascertain what additional resources are being committed in the context of the remarks made earlier by the Minister, Deputy Bruton, regarding new IDA and Enterprise Ireland personnel. Have additional personnel been assigned to China to achieve the aim of enabling Ireland to become a European trade hub?

See this speech in context