Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

My point was that IDA activity over three decades has not been up to par, so it needs to improve. Part of the reason for the continuing stagnation of the economy in the south east is down to the administrative burden being placed on SMEs and other business ventures that are having their entrepreneurial vision and passion restricted or crippled. In reply to a parliamentary question I recently submitted, I was told that the various Departments identified the cost of the administrative burden for businesses nationally at approximately €320 million annually. That is a frightening figure. I know that during the talks on the programme for Government, the Taoiseach mentioned a reform of the public services and all of the agencies. We need that figure to be driven down because people need support, not restraint. They have the initiative and the energy but they want to be allowed to do their job. Some €320 million is an astonishing figure that could be spent on, or could do, many other things.

The Taoiseach mentioned Ireland's Ancient East and all of those ideas. They are wonderful and there is wonderful buy-in from rural communities as well. However, this is about investment, attracting FDI, site visits and visits to the county by the IDA. All of Tipperary and I expect that the county will get a fair share of the cake; no more, no less.

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