Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Yes. Earlier this year I debated the issues involved at the Bulmers plant in Clonmel with the Minister of State's colleague, the former Minister of State with responsibility for small business, Deputy John Perry. I am not blaming either of them for the reply I received which was just not credible. It was written by civil servants and some research may have gone into it, but we did not get any answer in the circumstances. What are we doing here if we cannot catch the system by the scruff of the neck, shake it and make it fit for purpose? Young people are leaving, which is a source of great anguish. This is very much related to the domestic violence Bill that we debated this morning. The pressure being experienced by the owners of small and medium-sized enterprises and sole traders, not to mention their wives and families, has nothing to do with alcohol or gambling. It stems from the sheer hard work that has to be done by risk-takers whose businesses are going reasonably well. As Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice said, they go to the banks only to receive knock after knock and kick after kick under the system. Unfortunately, many of them have ended up in the graveyards of Ireland because of this pressure.

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