Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Tánaiste is Minister for business and industry and everything else. Businesses, especially small businesses, were never under as much pressure as they are under now. In Clonmel, a number of them closed this week with more to go. The same is true in villages as well. It is very hard to restart a business or get a new business in. We have a huge issue here. The budget did very little for small businesses. The Government needs to do something with the charges for the gas and electricity. It has piled on more taxes. It has given back credits to people to give back what they paid. One fabulous business which been operating in Clonmel for 62 years is closing next Saturday. I do not want to mention any names. The pressure business people are under is unreal. The Tánaiste is talking about this, that and the other, but there are no meaningful supports them. They are faced with rates, insurance costs and the cost the wages with the price increases spiralling out of control and they cannot continue in business. It is so sad to see them go out of business, some of them after six decades.

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