Terry Brennan (Fine Gael)

I will be brief. I have listened to the debate in the Chamber for most of the morning and small and medium enterprises have not received recognition for the part they must and will play, if given the opportunity. Many small industries began in back kitchens, garages or homes and have developed. I am aware of one which has developed into an enterprise employing 12 or 14 people which now produces for a worldwide market. While there are entrepreneurs in all communities, it should be part of Government policy that provision be made by local authorities, county enterprise boards or some agency for the making available of developed sites for small industries on an industrial estate. We cannot depend on multinationals forever and the future lies in having small industries. It should be Government policy to provide such sites. I am aware of one such site in County Meath that has 120 people working on it. Imagine having a similar estate in each county. Ten times 26 is 260 and with ten people working on each, one would have a couple of hundred thousand people. This space should be provided, as it is needed.