Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I wish to add my voice regarding support for the SMEs. The power-up grant is somewhat welcome but I think the blanket approach is not supportive enough for the businesses that are most in need. Maybe there was an overconcentration on the 9% rate because that was never going to be achieved, given the position of the three coalition parties' leaders on it.

Has the Minister of State had any engagement with the energy regulator with regard to the price gouging that is going on, and the high cost of energy for SMEs? Has he engaged with the Department of Finance and with Revenue on how inflexible Revenue is being with some businesses at the moment?

The Minister of State has acknowledged that it was wrong for previous Ministers to bring in all these measures at the one time. On sick pay, particularly where there are ratios required in childcare, businesses pay not only for the person who is out sick but also for the replacement person. Are there any supports that can be brought in for a scenario such as that? They must maintain ratios in nursing homes and childcare facilities, so it is a double whammy for those businesses. We need to concentrate on getting additional supports into the businesses that need it the most.

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