Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Is am dúshlánach é seo do ghnóthaí agus do chlanna i ngach cúinne den tír. Tá an buiséad ag iarraidh an dúshlán seo a réiteach do gach duine. Budget 2023 has come at an incredibly challenging time for families and business, as a significant cost-of-living and cost-of-business challenge related to the war in Ukraine is hitting every corner of our country. This budget places a strong focus in ensuring that our SMEs and the multinationals that invest and employ many hundreds of thousands of our citizens and that help to support our economy through difficult times, are supported now and can continue to thrive by addressing the cost of energy in doing business, particularly for small businesses; promoting balanced regional enterprise through increased investment in trade promotion; and, crucially, supporting business to embrace the opportunities of digitalisation and green initiatives in order that they can seize new opportunities and future-proof our economy.

A competitive, innovative and resilient enterprise base is essential to providing high-quality jobs and employment opportunities for people to live and prosper in all regions of our island. Businesses can harness digital technologies in many different ways, including to better understand their customers, reduce business costs and improve products. An additional €6 million has been allocated to the digital transition fund for 2023 and a further €3 million to the four European digital innovation hubs in our nomenclature of territorial units for statistics, NUTS, regions to help drive the digital transformation of SMEs, the public service and the economy more widely. The Tánaiste gave details of the small firms investment in energy efficiency scheme, which is getting an additional €4 million in funding in 2023 through the network of local enterprise offices throughout the country. This will also be supported by the growth and sustainability loan scheme, with its emphasis on green and sustainable investments, which is making up to €500 million available in low-cost investment loans of up to ten years to SMEs, with no collateral required for loans up to €500,000.

Our future success continues to be predicated on balanced regional enterprise, which is key to trade promotion and development. That is why we are continuing to fund IDA Ireland's regional property programme, which encourages and facilitates regional investment by ensuring that suitable properties are in place to meet the needs of multinational firms. This year, we have allocated €60 million for the IDA's property budget, which is an increase of €4 million on 2022. This reflects the continuing priority of job creation and economic growth to this Government. It specifically allows for further expansion of the IDA's regional property programme, the completion of buildings in Dundalk, Carlow, Limerick, Waterford and Athlone, and will contribute to the commencement of buildings in Sligo, Cavan, Galway, Letterkenny, Mullingar, Drogheda, Longford, Tralee, Oranmore and Castlebar. The regional property programme will also see 19 advanced building solutions delivered in regional locations throughout Ireland during the lifetime of the IDA's current strategy, which now includes three completed facilities in Monaghan, Sligo and Limerick. Tá an méadú go €14.450 milliún d’Údarás na Gaeltachta, an leithdháileadh caipitil iomlán don údarás a fuaireamar anuraidh, coinnithe sa bhunlíne don bhliain seo chugainn. Tá sé sin tábhachtach do bhuiséad caipitil an údaráis.

We have greatly empowered the powers of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, CCPC, this year to tackle cartels, bid-rigging in public procurement and anti-competitive practices and mergers. The Consumer Rights Bill will also bring much-needed reform to consumer legislation. The ongoing cost-of-living challenge means it is imperative to reassure consumers that their rights will be upheld so they are able to get the best value for money and be protected from misleading and unfair commercial practices. Therefore, the CCPC will be allocated an additional €1 million, which represents a 5.8% increase on last year. The CCPC has received Exchequer funding increases of 71% since 2019, which demonstrates the significant priority the Government places on protecting consumers. Budget 2023 will also increase the Corporate Enforcement Authority, CEA, budget by a further €770,000. In advance of the authority's establishment, we increased its predecessor budget by €1.7 million, or 28%, from 2020 to 2022. The proposed increase in the CEA budget for 2023 signals our continued commitment to ensuring it can perform and deliver on its statutory mandate.

Aside from the budget measures announced yesterday to address the high cost of doing business, the ongoing work on these costs continues. Deputies will be aware of ongoing reform agenda regarding the Personal Injuries Assessment Board. The Government will enact the Personal Injuries Resolution Board Bill by year end, beginning next week. This will enable more claimants and respondents to avail of an enhanced service but, crucially, to also have their claims resolved through mediation, thereby reducing the need to go to court. Increasing the number of claims settled through this enhanced process will reduce the cost and time involved in injury claims and impact positively on the cost and availability of insurance, which is vital for so many groups throughout the country and is a key priority for this Government.

This budget is positive. It supports digital transformation, trade promotion and company regulation. It will support our businesses and help to protect consumers. It will help to ensure that companies are regulated to the highest standards. It will further generate and support jobs in our economy and provide important support structures for businesses, small and large, through these difficult days.

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