Susan O'Keeffe (Labour) | Oireachtas source

In the middle of this very difficult debate it was good to be in a room last night surrounded by entrepreneurs, people who are battling the elements and doing their bit to create jobs. I cite a man named Michael Murphy, who now lives in Moville but has travelled the world. He was originally a dairy and food scientist before setting up a company called Moolicious Foods. Forgive me stating the name but he is creating employment. He told me that after battling for four years the company has reached a tipping point where it is so busy that he is hoping the telephone will not ring. It is doing that well. It produces little sticks and pots of milk for airlines throughout the world. This is an example of what can and is being done. He and others in that room were being funded by the Western Development Commission, an organisation that has also battled to maintain its funding. It has managed to do that and is using it in a way that is both targeted and appropriate. It is now considering even smaller, micro-finance funding to help keep some companies going and to support new companies, such as Moolicious Foods, that are only interested in creating jobs.

We had a very good debate earlier this year in which Members across all parties came up with good ideas for entrepreneurs and creating jobs. We should revisit that. I understood we would do so and that the House would, as it were, fly a flag for small and medium enterprises in this country. Could we have that debate early in the new year, given that many new companies have emerged since the last debate? I thank the Western Development Commission for its support for a variety of companies on the western seaboard.