Mary Ann O'Brien (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I wish to support my long-lost relative, Senator Darragh O'Brien, and his amendment. It links up with what I wish to speak about this morning. I welcome the Government's publication of the Action Plan for Jobs last month and its excellent press release from last Monday, in which it announced 20,000 new jobs in manufacturing by 2016. I call on all Senators to engage with me. Can we please have the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Bruton, and the Minister of State, Deputy Perry, in to discuss the Action Plan for Jobs?

There are many entrepreneurs and citizens throughout Ireland that have ideas to start businesses. There is a wonderful website overseen by the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and there is wonderful help available but this does not correspond to the reality I find. Recently I have met ladies, gentlemen, young people and older people who have great ideas to start businesses. However, when they get to the level of meeting people they only get so far because, ultimately, the money or the help to borrow the money is not available. We must go back to the question of those banks freeing up some of the money that we lent to them and lending it to entrepreneurs.

Let us remember that entrepreneurs take a considerable risk if they start a business because our social welfare system will not support them if they fail. The fear of failure is considerable among these people. Although I warmly welcome the Action Plan for Jobs I believe we need to dive deep and look at the nuts and bolts and the reality of the journey for an entrepreneur and ensure we get it absolutely right.