Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)

I acknowledge what the Minister has done in relation to small businesses and business supports. I also recognise that there has been a reduction in the cost of doing business, which is well and good. I support the VAT 9 scheme because it is important to provide that leg-up, particularly for small businesses who need it. The reality is, however, that it is a blunt instrument. It is a universal benefit and, therefore, it benefits those enormous companies and even those large companies that do not need the support. I recognise that it is difficult to construct a mechanism that allows us to give the benefit to one group of companies and not to others but the reality is that large companies do not need that VAT reduction. They will survive. They welcome it but they will survive without it. There are small businesses in every town and village in this country, including businesses in my own community and constituency which have been in contact with me, that need that reduction but they will not get it for whatever reason. They are outside the scheme because they are not providing certain goods. Small businesses are not all getting that benefit but are still facing increased costs of doing business. I am wondering if there could be targeted supports specifically for those small businesses.

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