Niall Ó Brolcháin (Green Party)

I concur with Senator Cannon on one point, namely, that Zhivago music and the Cellar Bar in Galway city are iconic businesses. Galway is not an exception as small business across Ireland are under major pressure. It is very sad to see iconic businesses close down, especially those which have been in operation for many years.

I call for a debate on administrative reform which, unlike political reform, is an issue the House does not frequently discuss. I note that a previous speaker called for a debate on information technology, an area in which Ireland has some of the best professionals in the world. I come from an IT background and I am aware that many Irish companies produce world class software for foreign governments. The systems in place here, however, are not up to the same standards, as much of the software produced in this country is for other governments. Form filling and endlessly providing the same information for various bodies create a significant overhead for businesses. A streamlined approach is required. It is preposterous to hear that taxing child benefit is not possible because systems are not compatible or computers cannot talk to each other.