Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am glad to get the opportunity to talk about this proposed Bill. I have taken enough guff taken from people inside this Chamber condemning people who employ people. I happen to be one of those people for the last 40 years and more. My son is doing it now. Friday evening comes very quick when a person has a number of people to pay. The pay is one thing; there are people at home waiting for them to come home with the package of money to keep their household going. There are so many rules and regulations now. It is impossible for small businesses. It does not have to be a company but it can be a sole trader. They are met with the same kind of rules and regulations daily.

Think of the minimum wage. I supported increasing the minimum wage, but it had a domino effect. The wages of all those on higher wages had to go up. That has to come out of the employers’ pocket or accounts. We have no problem favouring the multinational companies which come to Ireland. We all applaud Apple for the employment, the work and all the pay packages it gives people where it is operating. At the same time, however, it seems to be able to get away with paying a certain amount of tax. We saw the Government trying not to take the money. There are plenty of holes here for the money. RTÉ did everything wrong and, instead of being promised a surety of the television licence, it is getting €750 million over the next three years to ensure it stays afloat. It is the workers with the small pay packages who are going to be affected.

Small businesses in Killarney, Kenmare, Killorglin, Castleisland, Cahersiveen and all around our areas are all struggling to keep going. They are being hit in so many different ways. Look at what the Government has done to the rates. It has tripled the rates for businesses in the town of Killarney, Killorglin and Kenmare.

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