David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)

I move amendment No. 1:

To delete all words after "Seanad Éireann" and substitute the following:

-notes with grave concern the recently released GNP figures that indicate a contraction of domestic economy;

-recognises that most SMEs are engaged in the domestic economy;

-notes the need to make more supports available for those who are self-employed;

-notes that access to credit remains a huge problem for SMEs despite the State now owning large shares in the major banks;

-recognises that the policies being pursued by the Government are failing SMEs and the economy in general;

calls on the Government to replace its policy of austerity with one of stimulus and investment;

proposes that the Government consider the adoption of a number of measures specifically to support small business and those who are self-employed, to include:

(a)ending the upwards only rent regime;

(b)addressing the difficulties with late payments for those contracted to provide goods and services to the public sector including by NAMA;

(c)opening up the rules on tender and procurement again to enable a wider range of firms and businesses to seek public contracts;

(d)to develop clauses in public procurement contracts to promote the sourcing of local goods and suppliers and the provision of training;

(e)the provision of greater levels of social protection, including protection in the event of illness, for those who are self-employed; and in particular for those whose business fails leading to a collapse of income including allowing them to avail of social welfare benefits;

(f)addressing high levels of local authority rates, and looking at the introduction of progressive rates whereby larger and more profitable, typically, multinational businesses pay a fairer proportion of rates to alleviate the burden of , mainly indigenous, SMEs; and

(g)enabling company directors to invest money from their private pension funds into their businesses;

(h)ensuring increased levels of access to credit and finance facilities for small and medium enterprises including expediting the promised partial loan Credit Guarantee Scheme and micro enterprise credit scheme;

(i)Reversing the unwise decision to increase VAT with is stifling domestic demand and creating differentials north and south.