Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I take on board what the Deputy has said. The SME task force was established in September of this year and is part of a commitment in the programme for Government. I was very supportive of this because I believe that over recent years, there was not a sufficiently significant focus on our SME sector. This task force has put a spotlight on our SMEs. We have brought together, under the stewardship of the Tánaiste, key businesspeople, including people who have created employment over the years and who have built up SMEs, to listen to them regarding what needs to be done from a policy perspective. One of the subgroups that has worked on the SME task force has done so in the area clustering and business networks. There is a plenary session later this week to work towards publishing our SME plan. I have no doubt that when that plan is published, we will see a very strong commitment regarding how we can ensure indigenous companies benefit from the significant presence of multinationals.

See this speech in context