Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State will forgive me if I am concerned about the gravity of the loss of €100 billion and 80,000 jobs to the economy over ten years versus a €300 million loan scheme; loans at interest rates of 4%, if sanctioned; a voucher scheme here and there; a diary of Government events and public meetings around the country, a website, some online courses, a series of information talks around technical matters and an InterTradeIreland body that is capped with regard to the number of staff it can employ in this time of crisis. If one juxtaposes the gravity of the situation and the Government's response to it, one finds it is nowhere near good enough. The Government should seize this opportunity to create a step change with regard to how it deals with small to medium-sized enterprise in this country.

Business functions to the path of least resistance so the Government needs to identify the elements that are resisting development around the country. Anyone involved in business knows that real insurance reform is radically needed, as is real banking reform that allows for natural credit to flow within society. Infrastructure is also important. We are losing services from Rosslare into France, which is ludicrous. The Government should be looking to invest in Rosslare, Cork, Waterford, Drogheda and Shannon-Foynes ports. It should be investing in the road and rail networks. Two weeks ago in this House, the Taoiseach spoke about €25 million being withdrawn from the Derry-Dublin motorway project, at a time when the North-South infrastructure should be developed. We should be looking for real North-South convergence across the business world and additional lorry parking and inspection posts in Ireland, as well as in places like Cherbourg.

My party, Aontú, wants to see the Government take small to medium-sized enterprise seriously into the future. We believe small to medium-sized enterprises should have a representative at the Cabinet table, rather than being dealt with by a junior Minister.

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