Marie Moloney (Labour)

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. Like other speakers, I know we are very much aware of the small and medium enterprise issue. When we had the debate in the Seanad on job creation, everybody spoke about the flow of credit to small and medium enterprises. The days of the big multinational companies coming to this country are gone, unfortunately, at least for the time being. We may not see them return for a while. If we can protect the businesses with one, two or three jobs, it would be great. I know the Minister, Deputy Bruton, wrote to us and thanked us for our contributions in the Seanad that day, and he indicated he would take up many of the suggestions.

I said on the day that the rates are crippling small and medium employers. For example, one of the oldest furniture shops in the Killarney has, unfortunately, closed after many years. It is sad to see a family business like it go. Those types of shops need large units and are rated on them, despite the fact that their turnover may be quite small. We must consider such matters. The Minister of State has put much work into this issue and has spent time going around the country meeting people. Is the 2% rate cast in stone or is there any leeway with the issue?