Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State essentially said the Department is not structured to help out in a serious way. Too often when different Departments are involved in a matter like this, it just ends up being pushed around a bit. The firms in question generally employ between four and five people. They will not be able to come up with the kind of money in question. While regulation is good, this is more about bureaucracy and paperwork. Once the training and certification is obtained, the work is not tested anymore. It is like the lack of inspection in house building.

In Britain, 70% of the cost is subsidised by the UK Government. If this Government is serious about small and medium-sized enterprises and wanting people to stay in business, it will have to help the firms in question because they will not be able to afford this certification. Over 1,000 companies will be affected by this.

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