Richard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Cathaoirleach.

I understand that €540 billion was assigned to a recovery programme for workers and businesses in Europe to strengthen, in particular to strengthen the resilience of the health system and promote innovation in it. How is this being monitored in Ireland? Are we proactively working with our stakeholders, including our wonderfully innovative pharmaceutical companies, to engage with this programme? If we are being rewarded for innovation, is the Government consulting the many Limerick-based pharmaceutical companies, such as Regeneron and Stryker? While the total fund for Europe is €540 billion, the figure mentioned for Ireland is €2 billion, although I believe that may have increased to €2.7 billion. Are we pushing to get more of this funding? Are we getting our fair share of the pot?

In economics, Europe’s policy for business is to ensure maximum impact, minimise administrative burden and avoid duplication. This is not what I am hearing on the ground. There are six or seven page application forms for grants with questions on cash flow and projections. These are difficult for small and medium enterprises as they are frustrated trying to open for business and do not see funds coming through. There are several examples of SMEs starting up in Europe which have had cheques posted to them. In one case, a restaurant received €50,000 in the post. Why are we so different? Big ideas in Europe are cumbersome for SMEs in Ireland because they do not see them materialising. They are tired of the process. All they see with regard to grants is a mirage and they are unsure if they qualify for them. This is the reality on the ground. I hate to waste time talking about accountability and simplifying application systems, whether it is applying for an SME fund or for a street light in the community. Procedures have to be simplified because they act as barriers to doing business. I challenge the Government and the next one to ensure we apply enough pressure on Europe for funding. Could we potentially get more from Europe? God knows, we deserve it because Ireland has been a loyal partner on Brexit and the banking crisis. My understanding is that some €100 million has been drawn down from a fund of €650 million. We have to ask why this is the case. Do we have the wrong schemes? Is the process so cumbersome that our SMEs are starved of cash?

I have sought help from the Government for a company in Limerick which has been manufacturing PPE for this country. I have given the Government paperwork on this based on a €2 million investment in Ireland which would be cost neutral after three years. This project would create 40 jobs in east Limerick, where jobs like this have not been seen in years. I see from the Internet that the Government has given €102 million to a company with 12 employees in County Clare for the supply of PPE. There are 90 people working in this company in Limerick and it is projected it would employ 40 more if it had an investment of €2 million over three years. This would be cost neutral and we would have PPE manufactured in Ireland and jobs created. However, we see €102 million going to company with 12 employees. How many people in the Government are self-employed? How many of them understand business and job creation? What sectors do they come from? We have seen how farming and businesses have been let down. It is evident that the Government does not have know-how. Why does it not ask Independent Deputies? How many independents are self-employed or from business backgrounds? They have massive experience. The Government has centralised everything in Dublin, which it does not wish to leave. For years, it has let us down. It is about time it asked for this help. We will help and I will help anyone but the Government should listen to us.

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