Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)

I am aware of the many burdens on small businesses as I am involved in that sector. The only burden on councils in respect of small business is that of rates. The vast majority of local authorities have not increased rates for the past year or two. There have been huge increases in the cost of waste disposal - it is an ever-increasing cost - and huge increases in the cost of insurance. The development charges in respect of new business, which are expensive, have driven up the cost of business. Perhaps this is at what the Minister of State was hinting.

The Minister of State referred also to driving better regulation. This country has run amok in terms of regulation.