Michael Mullins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the positive start we have made to this Oireachtas term on a number of fronts. I particularly welcome the setting of a date for the referendum on children's rights. I compliment the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, and the all-party Oireachtas committee. I thank everyone who helped us to reach the stage at which a referendum can be organised.

I welcome the significant job announcements made in recent days. Electronic Arts has announced that it intends to create 300 new jobs in my home county of Galway. A further 400 jobs are being created in Limerick. Realex Payments announced yesterday that it would create 50 jobs in Dublin. These are positive developments. The main issue I am raising relates to the whole employment situation. I draw the Leader's attention to two issues that are affecting small indigenous businesses in areas such as manufacturing, services and retail. The first is the attitude of the banks in failing to make finance available to viable businesses. Some 16 jobs were lost in my constituency in recent days because a bank would not lend a meagre amount of money to a company which had significant orders up to the end of the year. Business people in the retail and other sectors have said to me that the banks are treating them like criminals. That is a significant statement. It is not acceptable for the banks to treat people like criminals. We need to have a major discussion on the matter in the House.

Legitimate businesses cannot compete with those operating in the black economy because they are being undercut by those operating cash-only businesses. Those involved in business often complain about over-regulation, but I suggest there is under-regulation in certain sectors. Every business operating should have to display a licence on its premises and in vehicles and be required to have a tax clearance certificate. We need to do significant work to level the playing field in a way that will enable legitimate businesses to operate, thrive, prosper and survive. The next time the relevant Minister comes to the House the Leader should put the major challenges facing small indigenous businesses on the agenda for discussion. Possibly it will dovetail with what Senator Darragh O'Brien said. I urge the Leader to organise such a discussion in the next three or four weeks, if possible. Many businesses are in danger of going to the wall if we do not do something to help them. There are some very practical things we could do and I will articulate some more of them during the discussion.