Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

What I am talking about here are not small businesses. Even a small supermarket employs ten to 15 people. Those at the larger end in small towns still employ perhaps 50 or 60 people. The money that goes into the local community from the wages is significant. I hear what the Tánaiste says about subsidising businesses that may find it hard to get staff but I ask him to think about what will happen to those staff if they lose their jobs and those communities if they lose their local supermarket, their local café and their services. These are the businesses that support local clubs, local charities, local GAA clubs, soccer clubs and societies. They are part of the fabric of many rural towns and urban centres. We are looking at some of them closing unless they pass on these increased costs to consumers. That will send inflation through the roof. People will not be without supermarkets. They will have the large chains and the multinationals but the small ones will close unless the Government looks at rates rebates or finding some other way of giving more support to these businesses.

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