Mary White (Fianna Fail)

I have raised the matter of the competitiveness of Irish industry on numerous occasions in this House. Many Irish businesses are unable to compete abroad. It is scandalous that some Departments are not paying their bills on time. In many cases, invoices have to be reissued, which puts further pressure on companies that need cashflow. If a company does not have cashflow, which is the life blood of a company, it will go out of business. I have discussed this matter with the Taoiseach and tabled a motion at a meeting of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party. I am pleased to inform my colleagues that the Cabinet decided yesterday that all Departments will now be compelled to pay their bills within 15 days. That is good news.