Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to take part in this debate. I wish to offer my sincere condolences to the families and friends of those who lost their lives due to Covid over the past week. I also offer my best wishes to those who continue to fight this terrible disease, be they in hospital or isolating at home.

It is clear that we are winning this battle, but we must not become complacent. I urge the public, particularly the younger generation, to continue following the guidelines as laid out by the Chief Medical Officer. I also appeal to the younger generation to consider that it is the elderly who are most vulnerable to this virus. That includes their grandparents and parents. While younger people might believe that the virus will not affect them, they must consider the health and safety of their grandparents and parents.

Every Deputy will undoubtedly agree with me that the crisis facing the people of Ireland is unprecedented and could not have been forecast. We are in the midst of a crisis created by Covid and every single business and worker has been affected in one way or another. To make matters worse, we have a no-deal Brexit coming down the tracks.

Regarding this Vote, it is vital that the House support all the additional funding for the business sector as detailed today. In fact, I would go further and say that we should consider increasing that funding. We are in unprecedented times that call for unprecedented action. During the banking crisis, austerity was the approach taken. Although I was a member of that Government and voted in line with its policies at the time, it is clear in hindsight that that approach was wrong and inflicted far too much pain on the working people of Ireland. We must never return to austerity measures and I ask the incoming Government to state on the record that austerity measures will not form any part of the economic rescue plan.

Of the amount we are voting on, €250 million relates to business restart grants. While welcome, that amount does not go far enough. The business sector has suffered greatly since the lockdown. It must be fully supported as it reopens and be given as much financial support as required. We must not forget that the majority of people work for small firms that employ fewer than 50 people. These businesses are the heartbeat of the economy and they need our full support.

I have spoken to many business owners in my home town of Dundalk and the surrounding area. Many of them employ fewer than 15 workers. They have used their resources, which many had built up over a number of years, to keep their businesses afloat during the crisis. They have used everything they have earned in recent years to ensure that those jobs will still be there when they reopen. In one case, a family-run business that employs 16 local people took out a credit union loan to ensure its employees continued to be paid during the lockdown. The Government supports put in place were a great source of help to that business and many others around the country. Had we taken the same approach now as we did during the previous crisis, businesses like them would not have survived.

The lesson to be learned is that we must throw the rule book out and think outside the box. The ECB has made money available at an interest rate of 0% and has been clear that this money is available to Ireland. Germany and France have decided to support this stimulus. We must take advantage of it and borrow that money. Now is the time to keep the economy stimulated. In that respect, I appeal to the Government to be bold and adventurous in its July stimulus package. That package must be generous and target the sectors of the economy that will drive growth.

We must get our tourism sector back up and running. We must assume that this year's tourism numbers will be a disaster in respect of foreign visitors. This is an ideal time to support our tourism sector and strongly encourage people to holiday in Ireland this year and next year. My constituency of Louth and east Meath has some of the best tourism areas in the country, including the Cooley Peninsula and the Boyne Valley. We need to support our economy, and one of the best ways of supporting the tourism sector is to holiday in Ireland.

We also need to support local restaurants, bars and coffee shops. It was great to see many restaurants, bars and coffee shops preparing to reopen in Dundalk this week. I know it was the same in many other parts of the county, such as Drogheda, Ardee, Dunleer and Carlingford.

The €250 million set aside for the business restart grant is not enough. Businesses need help to ensure that their premises are safe for customers and staff. I say this because, although we are dealing with Covid-19 currently, it is becoming clear that this pandemic might only be the start of a cycle. The new reality is that we might have to face a different coronavirus next year and beyond. As such, we must put measures in place that limit the effect of these viruses. We must plan for a new reality.

I have spoken to many business owners. The one point they all make is that they need support and advice on how to make their premises safe for staff and customers. They not only need financial support, but guidelines. Many innovative companies are offering solutions to make business premises Covid-safe and we must help and support them. I know of a local business that has come up with an innovative solution using a traditional process. It can cover door handles and other areas that are in contact with staff and customers with copper. Covid and other viruses cannot survive on copper and, therefore, cannot be spread on these surfaces. This is one of many innovative ways that businesses could be supported in making their premises safe not only for the current pandemic, but for any future Covid pandemic. The business restart grant should be utilised to make businesses safe and future-proof them against any new virus that might appear over the coming years.

While I support the increased allocation under this Vote, it does not go far enough. We must not hold back at this crucial point. We must borrow now when we have the opportunity and support our economy. We cannot go back to the austerity years when many businesses went to the wall because of the policies we pursued. Now is the time to keep the economy safe and support it as it recovers from Covid. If we do not have a strong economy, the Government will not be in a position to fulfil many of the promises made in the programme for Government. I urge the Government once more to confirm to the people of Ireland that austerity is not an option being considered at this time. The country could not stomach another period of austerity.

We must think outside the box. Coming from a business background, I know what it is like to do that when times are tough. I once ran one of those small businesses and employed upwards of 15 people at any one time. I know what it is like to ensure that all staff are paid every week and all suppliers are paid on time. Believe me - when running one's own business, one needs to think outside the box on occasion.

I will conclude by asking the Government to consider all stimulus measures when supporting our economy and not to forget that the majority of workers in the country are employed by SMEs. It is those businesses that need our support.

I wish the Tánaiste the best in his new role and I look forward to his replies.

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