Mary White (Fianna Fail)

The representatives from the troika also stated, "Ireland's unemployment remains very high, and generating growth and jobs on a sustainable basis remains a critical priority." The Minister of State cannot deny the findings of the ISME survey to which I refer which shows the level of dissatisfaction among over 700 SMEs and indicates that "Business costs, jobs and banking issues still evoke greatest negative sentiment." ISME's members work at the coalface and it is the they who are creating employment.

The scheme that will be established under the Bill is the first fund for microenterprises to date. Whatever I may feel about the ambitions for the scheme, I compliment the Minister on bringing it forward. I would just like to point out to the Minister of State that I am complimenting the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation on bringing forward the scheme.