Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Another budget and another round of short-term supports for business. It appears that the Minister for enterprise massively overestimated his capacity to influence his Cabinet colleagues because he was all over the media publicising his own down-to-the-wire negotiations pleading for the VAT reduction sought by some in the hospitality sector, but he failed to convince anyone. It looks like a back-of-an-envelope scheme, although I hesitate to even call it that, that was cobbled together at the last minute. It is another one-off payment for struggling businesses when what they need is a real and meaningful contribution that recognises that the cost of doing business for SMEs is putting them under severe pressure.

The Minister's latest attempt at providing supports fell far short of what was required. While SMEs were calling for help, the Government was putting one convoluted scheme after another in place, with ever more complex ways to access funds. Massive amounts were returned to the Exchequer, not because they were not needed - they were desperately needed - but because the Government could not design a scheme that was fit for purpose. As with those schemes announced in the previous budget, we will have to wait for the detail on this one. This latest scheme of the Government will be judged on whether it is accessible for SMEs. Many will be excluded because they do not have a rateable premises or because their rates are too high. This is the case for many businesses in the Dublin area and the Government will know this because it left them out of previous schemes.

What did the Government do for enterprise? It decided to pit business against workers by telling workers on the minimum wage that they will only get an increase of 80 cent per hour. In what way does this recognise that there is a cost-of-living crisis? In what way does this help the lowest earners to keep up with their bills? This is the biggest signal yet that workers will have to wait for a different government if they are ever to get the living wage. Working adults aged 20 and under are still on sub-minimum rates of pay, where they will stay until there is a new government. Instead of helping SMEs to pay their workers a living wage and ensure they have access to appropriate levels of paid sick leave, the Government tells workers that they will have to wait. It does not need to be either-or.

On the other hand, Sinn Féin would have supported businesses to be able to keep up with rising costs while ensuring that workers can get the pay increases and the sick pay they need and deserve. That is why we proposed a €250 million PRSI rebate package for businesses employing workers on low incomes. We value labour and workers. This is why we proposed a decent raise in the minimum wage of €1.10 per hour, as the next step in the plan to move to the living wage. That is why we have also tabled legislation that would change the Low Pay Commission to the living wage commission. We are serious about delivering for workers, because we understand that people on low incomes need a hand up but the Government is more interested in giving its old pals, the vulture funds and the corporate landlords, another dig-out. Workers know who is on their side and so do our SMEs. We have listened and we do not buy the Government line that there has to be a choice between supporting workers or supporting business. A Government that is serious about action over spin can do both but that is not this Government.

We believe in growth that supports working people but the Government is hoping that workers will be dazzled by the spin and the big numbers. I welcome the decision to release some of the money in the National Training Fund. Sinn Féin tabled legislation to enable this fund to be accessed some time ago. It is really good to see that the Government is finally catching up with us.

This budget fails utterly to recognise the housing crisis or its impact on businesses. The lack of affordable accommodation for workers and families is shameful and is also a serious impediment to growth. In my constituency, the Fingal Chamber of Commerce tells us that the slow delivery of infrastructure, and specifically housing, presents a threat to Ireland's competitiveness and reputation, resulting in a direct impact on recruiting and retaining workers and worryingly, the ability to attract additional FDI. Almost 43% of businesses in Fingal said that the availability of housing rental accommodation is a serious issue. Chambers Ireland has said that the greatest challenge facing SMEs is the lack of available talent, which is driven by affordable and appropriate housing being unavailable across most of the country.

I will end on this. The parties that caused the housing crisis will not be the ones to fix it. The Government that thinks that a house costing €500,000 is affordable will most definitely not be the one to deliver affordable housing.

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