Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. I spoke about businesses that have taken out major loans, like the one that invested €150,000, in the past 18 months or so. They took them out to deal with the consequences the pandemic had on their trade. The future is uncertain for many of those businesses because they will not be able to deal with that kind of debt.

More can be done. Measures can be taken to offset the cost in other ways for these businesses. I refer here to tackling insurance costs. The Personal Injuries Assessment Board has confirmed a large drop in personal injury awards. It is vital that the Government press insurance companies to reflect this in premiums for businesses and that it demand it, because businesses have little or no room for manoeuvre.

The Government must ensure the terms and conditions of the credit guarantee scheme are favourable for businesses that are struggling. It is imperative that a watchful eye is kept on the scheme in order to ensure that the businesses availing of it are not just those with more resources to enable them to access it. This funding needs to reach those who need it, like small businesses that employ six to ten people. I hope the Minister of State will take the concerns expressed by me and by business owners on board because every Member of this House has been contacted by small businesses like these butchers and that. I hope he does not discount what they say. This is what they experience daily.

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