Matt Shanahan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. He mentioned an engagement on 10 July but I spoke about a lack of engagement that has gone on for many months, and even longer than that. ISME represents approximately 700,000 employees, which is quite a large portion of our smaller employers. That group finds it very difficult to get any access and I referenced the unavailability of senior departmental officials to ISME representatives and hence smaller businesses. I point out that IBEC is a far larger grouping and a large number of its members would be considered larger employers with 40, 50 or more employees.

The people operating small businesses in this country need to have a voice on the LEEF. Some of the prescriptive arrangements to come from the LEEF, particularly with regard to employment law, taxation, etc., are forced on to smaller SMEs. They are entitled to have a voice and I hope the Government will facilitate that in the near future.

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