Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State and wish him well in his Ministry. He has great experience as a businessman who has created jobs in his own county. He is aware of the difficulties in small business and his experience will be of benefit to small businesses. I am delighted he is establishing a committee of business people and hope small businesses in the regions will be well represented on it.

A total of 700,000 workers are employed by small businesses which comprise an important sector of the economy. It is being given the right focus. I recall being a member of an Oireachtas committee on small business chaired by Ivan Yates many years ago and subsequently being a member of a sub-committee of that committee which investigated the impact of insurance costs on small business chaired by former Senator Donie Cassidy. The sub-committee's report resulted in major changes in insurance costs for small businesses. At the time the most significant issue was the inability to obtain insurance, but we changed the concept by setting up the Personal Injuries Assessment Board. Therefore, initiatives were taken by Members of this House in conjunction with civil servants.

The issues addressed by the jobs initiative are relevant. Rates are becoming a major issue. I accept local authorities are under pressure and finding it difficult to raise funds and collect rates. As a result, they are laying off workers. A balance must be struck between fair rates and the need to support local authorities through the collection process .

The decision regarding Galway and Sligo regional airports is a source of grave concern for the Minister of State. Now that he is in government, he is realising the responsibilities that land on one's shoulders when one is in office. It was probably a bombshell for him that State funding for Sligo Airport would be withdrawn from 2012, while Galway Airport is under pressure also. Fortunately, the airport at Knock will escape the cutbacks. It will have to survive because it is vital. The fact that Galway, for example, has an airport means that not only is employment provided by it but inward investment is also attracted. Multinational companies provide significant employment in Galway and they require air access to the area. It is the most convenient way to get to their plants. The same applies to Sligo Airport, although I acknowledge regular flights are not scheduled to and from there. At one stage, there were scheduled flights and the airport was used by jets, but perhaps some of them belonged to business people who visited Sligo. I have been in the vicinity. It is a nice small airport and I hope the Government will review its decision.

As a former Minister of State with responsibility for trade and marketing, I stress that it is vital that the Government increases the number of trade missions abroad and the number of inward buying missions which were a feature in the past. Enterprise Ireland officials should utilise the talent available in both Houses of the Oireachtas. Senators with expertise in a particular field should be asked to take part on trade missions and assist the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade because there are numerous people to meet and events to attend on these trips. Some of the expertise available in both Houses could be used with no additional cost to the State because Members would not charge for their services. There is a role in this regard for them. Every Senator has a speciality. I accompanied the former Minister of State, Michael Ahern, to Milan a number of years ago on a trade mission. I met Italian business people and worked the room with the Minister of State. I welcomed such support when I served as Minister of State because when one travels abroad, one must attend many meetings and events.

On the banking issue, the Foir Teoranta model would be useful. It was an agency of last resort to support small business and retain jobs throughout the country. For some unknown reason, it was disbanded, a move with which I disagreed strongly at the time. ACCBank was also established by the State. Alternative banking models were used in the past and should be examined again. I wish the Minister of State every success.