Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister will be aware from her Department that, previously, when the country faced a crisis, the then Government introduced a number of measures, including in 2009 an enterprise stabilisation fund that allocated up to €100 million over two years to support exporting companies. There was also an employment subsidy scheme which at the time helped employers to support over 90,000 jobs. They were very innovative schemes at a time when people needed supports. Has the Minister given any consideration to introducing similar measures and, if not, why not?

Following on from the Minister's earlier comments on the relaxation of state aid rules, and what we perceive as the need to relax the application of state aid rules, given the current ceiling for companies is €200,000 over a three-year period, does the Minister not feel a more robust and active engagement is needed with DG Competition and with the Ministers she meets at the Council of Ministers meetings in order to address these issues? It is hugely important that we have all the defences available to us, rather than arriving at the problem juncture before deciding we have to work on relaxing state aid rules. Let us have it sorted and bring it in, if necessary.

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