Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)

I thank Members for their contributions. Deputy Nolan is right that we must support social enterprises. That is the fundamental point and it is what I will do as Minister of State.

Deputy Donnelly spoke about Rethink Ireland. It was formerly Social Innovation Fund Ireland, SIFI, which was established by the then Government in 2012 to set up a €100 million fund in collaboration with philanthropists. Its establishment was a commitment on foot of a recommendation in the report of the Forum for Philanthropy and Fundraising. The contract the Deputy mentioned is fulfilling that commitment and, as the target is being reached, the amount is being reduced accordingly.

Again, I thank Deputy Donnelly and other Members for their contributions to this very exciting debate. We all agree on the need for a shared ambition and vision for the social enterprise sector. I will be happy to visit any of the places the Deputies mentioned. I look forward to going there with them. These social enterprises are good news stories. They are absolutely fantastic and the people one meets there are phenomenal. I do not share the view that some in the Chamber have expressed regarding private enterprise. This is about giving people an opportunity and revitalising and empowering them.

Deputy Donnelly spoke about supporting social enterprises to flourish and Deputy Nolan made the same point. Their contributions are the bookends in this debate and that point is what we must be about in a circular-economy world. Deputy Donnelly and I might disagree on many things but he is 100% right on this. As Minister of State, working with the officials in my Department, I am very clear on the importance of social enterprises and the gargantuan positive impact they have on communities across the country. Deputy Donnelly was half joking about the washing machine analogy but that is where we are at.

Deputy Connolly spoke about mattress recycling, painting, cafés and culture. All of that is positive for our country. The Deputy has left the Chamber but she asked about the minutes of meetings of the stakeholder engagement group.

The minutes of the first meeting have been approved and the second meeting has been held. The minutes have been uploaded on gov.ie.

I have taken notes of Deputies' contributions. I will go around the country. I will be up with Deputy Ó Murchú in County Louth in a couple of weeks. The points made today are valid and pertinent. I will take them on board, particularly those relating to procurement. That is one we need to look at further.

It is clear from today’s statements that there is an immense impact in our communities. We are talking about are businesses, but I have to disagree with Deputy Gibney. They are businesses with a heart, a social conscience and a social consciousness. That challenges everybody. They are transformative. The policy will be supported. It is about opportunity. I recognise their importance to our communities. I was involved in the community network before I became a politician. I understand the clear pathway that exists.

We can look at the impact social enterprises had on our communities during Covid. Deputy Lawless mentioned Storm Éowyn. These enterprises delivered services, hot meals, connectivity and vital supports in challenging times for the people who needed them most. During his tour of Mayo, the Deputy forgot to mention Ballina Costume Company, which pivoted from being a costume-making and rental company to being a producer and supplier of protective clothing for use in hospitals and care homes. That was done with no thought of a reward; it was just the right thing to do.

It is more important than ever that we in government deliver for people. That is why the programme for Government contains a commitment to support the vital role of social enterprise, recognising its value to local economies and society in general. It is my intention, working with all in this House and my colleagues in government, to deliver on that commitment through the implementation of the Trading for Impact social enterprise policy, which will provide critical support for people. Deputy Donnelly is right. Opportunity to make a real difference in our communities is what this is about. I stand for that.

The policy is a blueprint for sustainable growth in the sector in the coming years and is a testament to all the people and organisations who contributed to its development. I congratulate everybody involved in the social enterprise space for the many long hours of dedication and hard work that make this policy a real, lived reflection of this sector every day. It is more ambitious in scope than the first policy and will help to cultivate and sustain a strong and impactful social enterprise sector, one that will enrich the social, environmental and economic well-being of our communities.

The considerable outreach undertaken in developing the policy was worthwhile. As a result of the stakeholder engagement that occurred, we know, as part of the policy, what people want and what we can accomplish. The objectives of these engagements identified for inclusion in the policy are truly important and fitting as the sector continues to develop. The hard work begins now: putting in money and support and keeping the priority there. I look forward to working with the policy stakeholder engagement group and its various subgroups and delivery partners who will oversee delivery of the policy and who have already started work on that.

As I visit social enterprises across the country, I see thriving, sustainable organisations adding billions to our economy while helping and supporting people and working to create a better world and better communities. I look forward to further concrete evidence, details and data collection. I am a big believer in data collection and impact measurement, which is not about reducing programmes but about targeting and getting things right for people.

I do not know what some people are saying, but I do not believe it can be denied that my Department continues to invest considerable resources in the growth and development of the sector, not only through the Dormant Accounts Fund but also through current funding. This funding will continue to be directed at growing and developing the capital supports required by enterprises, as well as soft supports such as capacity building, leadership development, strategic planning and increasing readiness for more mainstream financial supports to help these companies grow and prosper.

I am proud of the support my Department gives the development of these enterprises which do much to help our communities. We are all familiar with the CSP projects operating in communities throughout Ireland, as well as the SICAP and LEADER programmes, and the impact they are having. The Minister, Deputy Calleary, and I are mindful of the significant support provided by other policies under the remit of our Department - the volunteering strategy, the philanthropy strategy and the broader rules strategy - which provide a strong foundation to help enterprises to thrive.

I will continue to work with people in the sector. As I travel across the country, I look forward to continuing my work. I attended the Dublin City Council Social Enterprise Awards ceremony a couple of weeks ago. I was struck by the fact that eight social enterprises were recognised. They are thriving and bringing life-changing opportunities to their communities and people. They often provide opportunities where none previously existed. I want to continue to work with people. I will travel to the National Social Enterprise Awards in October. I will engage at the national annual conference in Ballinasloe in November.

As we conclude proceedings, we can agree, I hope, that the debate has been positive. There are challenges and issues raised that we must look at. As a Minister of State in the Department, I look forward to figuring out solutions, working on the problems and meeting with and hearing from people first hand.

Our social enterprise policy represents an ambitious step forward in the Government’s ongoing commitment to social enterprise. As Minister of State with responsibility in this area, I am, along with the Minister, committed to ensuring support continues and grows in a targeted way, led by the actions contained in Trading for Impact. I look forward to seeing the impact these enterprises have on our people and communities. I also look forward to working with every Member of the House. I again thank Members for their contributions.

See this speech in context