Mary White (Fianna Fail)

It would be fatal to put the county enterprise boards under the aegis of the local authorities. I do not see why Enterprise Ireland cannot deal with companies with fewer than ten people. It has worldwide experience. That would be the right decision to make.

In the context of our attempts to develop an entrepreneurial culture, it is a serious issue that the owners of companies that go out of business are not entitled to social welfare benefits. It is a complete contradiction to try to develop an entrepreneurial culture with no welfare benefits for people whose companies go out of business.

On the issue of personal guarantees, the banks are devious in their behaviour with regard to giving money to companies.