Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

While one talks about creating employment in this country, I refer to a matter about which I spoke to the Minister in recent days.

I spent the weekend on the telephone trying to get to the get to the bottom of it. An EU directive has been introduced and it has resulted in job losses at a number of the SMEs to which the Minister refers. Rules and regulations are being imposed but information in respect of them is not being provided. When one contacts a particular State body about this issue, one is referred to another. I contacted several such bodies in recent days. We are hitting a wall when it comes to obtaining information and, at the same time, jobs are being lost. When regulations are introduced or changes are made, a message must be sent out to indicate what is happening. In addition, training must be provided in order to ensure that jobs will not be lost. The sad reality is that a further nine jobs were lost at an SME in the west last weekend as a result of the introduction of EU regulations. Basically, people are afraid because they do not know where to turn. If we do not take action, more and more jobs will be lost.

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