Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

As we make statements in the House on the programme for Government, I am acutely aware of the people throughout the State who have been failed since the Government took office.

We know this has not happened today or yesterday. It has been happening for years, as we can see in the infrastructural deficits, particularly in the west. Mar a dúirt mé inné the response to the disaster of Storm Éowyn has demonstrated what another five years of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael will mean for them.

Today, the ESB has confirmed that citizens are still without power in County Mayo. They number 2,000 in Galway, 2,750 in County Roscommon and 2,050 in County Leitrim. It prompts one to ask whether this Government's mantra is "to hell or to Connacht". The Government was completely flatfooted even though the likely damage following the storm was well flagged. I have been contacted by hundreds of businesses following the storm, including farm and fishing enterprises. Many of these businesses were already struggling to stay open. In terms of retail, Mayo is one of the counties with the highest number of vacancies among retail premises. These businesses need help now. Will the Government introduce a scheme to support businesses impacted by the storm? These businesses need to know.

The programme for Government commits to publishing and implementing a new digital strategy to fully realise the economic potential of the digital and AI revolution. I would support the introduction of such a strategy and I look forward to working constructively to deliver it. As the Government is aware, however, far too many people throughout the State remain without broadband. Indeed, the national broadband plan confirms that large parts of rural Ireland still do not have access to high-speed Internet. This is a prerequisite for businesses and must be addressed immediately.

The programme for Government makes further commitments to publish a new whole-of-Government action plan for competitiveness and productivity within 12 months. This is critical but such a plan must be completed on a national basis. I urge the Government to undertake the maximum level of engagement with Ministers in the Executive in the North, especially the finance, economy and infrastructure Ministers, as there is much joined-up work that can be done for the betterment of all. The recently launched ESRI macroeconomic model will be vital and a game-changing tool for the development of economic policy throughout the island. I welcome the innovations that it will bring and I am delighted that IBEC has supported this work as well, but the Government needs to ensure that further research can be leveraged from that. I welcome in the programme for Government the aim that all Departments would be tasked with having a North-South remit in specific areas of their portfolios. I want to see that developed.

Ahead of the general election, the Government committed to lowering the VAT rate on food-based hospitality, entertainment and hairdressing businesses. This does not appear in the programme for Government although media reports have indicated that it will be a part of budget negotiations. That is way too long to wait, particularly in the aftermath of the storm. Reducing the VAT rate has to be brought forward without any further delay. Nobody benefits from businesses going to the wall, least of all the people who are employed by them and the business owners who have worked so hard. These industries need clarity as to which businesses are affected so that the Government must move at pace with the commitment around the VAT rate. I note that the finance Minister in the North, John O'Dowd, has stated his intention to raise this matter with the British Treasury in respect of businesses in the North. Island harmonisation on this measure is important and is something on which I will be seeking progress.

The programme for Government describes the CETA trade agreement as benefiting Irish SMEs. It will do no such thing. It is a bad deal. It is a bad deal for workers' rights, for the environment and for the public purse and it should not be ratified.

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