Shane Ross (Dublin South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I have been in this House for a very short period of time. When I get up to speak, I wonder why we so often have had a debate of this kind and why small businesses are so often the subject of discontent on the part of the Opposition and provide such fertile ground for political opponents of the Government. The reason is because not much has been done for them and they are still suffering despite the apparent recovery of the economy.

I think there are two reasons for this. The first is a reason touched upon by Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan. Multinationals offer some sort of prop for the Administration because they provide the employment which prevents more extreme measures by unemployed people and relieves the unemployment figures resulting in figures of around 10%. That takes the pressure off the Government to do anything or anything particularly significant about small businesses. Perhaps more than anybody else in this House, I support the multinational sector in this country. I think it is a magnificent contribution to the economy. The figures justify that. However, we should be careful because warnings are coming from very reputable, indeed forensic, sources saying quite clearly that this economy is beginning to depend too much on foreign investment and that if foreign investors, who after all have no loyalty to this country, decide to leave or because of pressure coming from the US and France about our corporate tax rate decide it is time for them to reduce, not to come to or depart from Ireland, we will not have nurtured our small businesses in the way we should and we will not have any reserves left to defend the economy.

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