Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am glad to speak on this important issue of Revised Estimates. I will say first that I wish the Tánaiste every good luck and success in his new role.

It is important, as the Tánaiste has rightly pointed out, that we retain and continue to have the confidence of the markets and that we have access to what I would call "affordable money", because money needs to be pumped into the economy to try to get us over the crisis. Billions of euro have been wiped off our businesses' turnover, particularly if one looks at the tourism and hospitality sectors. They have been impacted. One might think the constituency I represent is bulletproof and that businesses in places like Killarney town are bulletproof and cannot be hurt or knocked down, but, unfortunately, they can. We have see that happen during the recent lockdown. I know personally that many of these businesses, even in a big place like Killarney, the capital of tourism in the world, will struggle to get back up and running. I wish each and every one of them well, all around County Kerry and throughout the country. I wish everybody who is opening their doors for the first time and everybody who will do so over the coming days and weeks nothing but success. It will be a struggle. I know it myself as a very small employer and as an operator of small businesses over many years. I know how difficult it is to pay people on a Friday evening.

I have, for instance, been in discussions with our vintners association and our hoteliers federation in Kerry over the last number of weeks and particularly the last number of days. A reduction in VAT is urgently required. It is important to bring our VAT rate down and that VAT be reduced on alcohol. Of course, responsible drinking is terribly important, but we must get the message out there now that there is nothing wrong with wanting to go out and visit one's local pub. There is nothing wrong with having a sociable drink with family, friends or neighbours and with people going out in the way they did in the past. To try and get that up and going again is important for local employment.

It is important that our banks work together and in conjunction with their customers. In particular, I want to say to people in AIB and Bank of Ireland to treat their customers and people who have mortgages with respect. I know of so many couples, young boys and young girls, who are being told that perhaps because one of them is not going back into employment until July or August, they cannot draw down their mortgage until both are back in employment and even have a number of weeks' payments put behind them. It is important that the banks understand they have to work with those people.

I want to ensure that the Government will back our small businesses in every way possible. It is so important, because these are the people who are going to create employment in the future and get our economy back up on its feet. I represented the people in the Ring of Kerry gladly for many years in Kerry County Council before being elected to the Dáil, and we have many small businesses there. I will support each and every one of them and I want the Government to support them, not through grants but through loans.

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