Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Creighton for her question. Appointments to the NESC are made, as I said, in accordance with the National Economic and Social Development Office Act 2006 and the National Economic and Social Council (Alteration of Composition) Order 2010. In accordance with those provisions, NESC has members nominated by business and employer interests which include the Irish Business Employers Confederation, IBEC, Chambers of Commerce, and the Construction Industry Federation, CIF. I do not think that anybody who represents Chambers Ireland, which represents small businesses all over the country, would accept that it does not represent SMEs. It does. The Small Firms Association, SFA, is a constituent part of IBEC and is formally represented on the council.

One can divide it up into so many different sectors and segments and when the new council is appointed consideration can be given to that but there will be divisions of business wanting to be represented. The SME sector is represented by Chambers Ireland and it represents 60 member chambers which represent more than 13,000 businesses and make their voices heard at the council. There are five main areas of activity - representing business interests; supporting SMEs; training and development; international services and strengthening the chamber network. That is its remit. It has representation on the council and voices those opinions regularly and vociferously. In addition, the SFA, with which the Deputy is very familiar, which represents the needs of small enterprises, has more than 8,000 member companies throughout the country, is a constituent part of IBEC and is thus represented on the council and makes its case as well. It is not a question of having somebody to speak for the SME sector, it is represented there and makes its case very cogently indeed.

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