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

I am glad to see the Minister is present because as she knows, she is one of the few people in government in whom I have faith in. I am disappointed with the issue concerning carers and the continuation of the means testing. I am upset on behalf of the people who give such great service to this country because they deserve better.

Also, today, as the Minister may be aware, thousands of people came up to the Dáil, not just vintners and restaurant people and hoteliers but from all strands of business life in Ireland. On their coming here, one thing stuck out in my head which I would like the Minister to listen to. The Minister's head is on the right way round. She may know this already but I want to state, on the record of the Dáil, that a business which has €1 million of a turnover, which is not a massive amount of turnover, is one that is being faced with €96,000 of additional charges it did not have a year or two years ago because of the actions of this Government. I get no satisfaction out of saying that and the Minister knows that, but I am only saying to her it in a practical way as she holds a very important job and portfolio.

I would very much like for her to listen to that and to respect the fact that in our case, for example, 30 people came from different walks of business life from the county I represent. I am glad they came up and that they took the time. Every one of them is a worker and they are people who left businesses after them today. In many cases, one person was not good enough to take their place as it took two or three people to do their work today when they came up here to Dublin. They came here because they feel so strongly about the issue they wanted to raise.

Finally, in my last remaining seconds of speaking time, I am disappointed that this Bill is being rushed through the Dáil here tonight and being guillotined in this way. That is wrong.

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