Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister. I compliment the Labour Party Senators who tabled the motion which is not only timely, it is overdue. To some extent we are not getting to grips with a difficulty that is so great and will get worse. If we think the economy is bad now, that the job situation is bad and that we have too much emigration, it is by looking at towns that we will realise where the real problem lies. When we debated county enterprise boards last week, a statistic was presented that 98.5% of all firms are small firms and they create 650,000 jobs. One finds such small firms in the main in small towns around the country.

Some years ago we argued that rural Ireland was the poor relation when it came to economic policies. It is not an exaggeration to say that we must closely examine towns because they now face some of the problems in a different way that rural areas faced in the past. We can point to specific reasons we find ourselves where we are at present. Logic does not form part of the equation. When one goes to a supermarket one sees small units closed due to rent increases. From an economic point of view one could ask what is the sense in having the units closed if that is where the problem lies. The same problem lies with small businesses in towns. The commercial rates paid by retailers account for 28% of the income of local authorities.

One of the reasons people cannot keep going is due to overheads. I refer to commercial rates, insurance, maintenance, hidden charges and paying staff. I can never forget my very good friend who was a small business person who worked diligently and set up a particular brand. He fell behind in his payments. One day he was visited by the Revenue Commissioners and when they left he took his own life. That particular person was the salt of the earth. There is something radically wrong with life when that happens.

I do not know whether people observed what was happening. I am not blaming the Office of the Revenue Commissioners; I am blaming no one. However, the set of circumstances I describe is being replicated weekly. People can no longer take the pressure. That is why it is important that this motion is before the House. It is pertinent to why we are here also. It is important that whatever we say today does not just disappear into the ether. What we are trying to do is to be helpful. None of us will have all the answers; it is as simple as that. The main point is that we all have experiences, and those experiences must be kept in mind.

Let me outline some of the reasons the towns are suffering, bearing in mind what is coming down the line. Even in this crisis, we need leadership teams in towns. People with particular expertise and interests need to work in a united way for the revitalisation of their towns. The only statutory voice available to the towns is that of the local councils, yet they are to be abolished. My home town, Cashel, which has a population of 3,000, has had a council - a legislature - since the 13th century, yet we are going to get rid of it. Where does that leave tourism? How does it affect representation when seeking industry? It makes no sense whatsoever. I am certain that when the town councils are abolished and we ask whether our having abolished them has saved money, we will conclude it has not. It will certainly have weakened the structure and leadership in the towns. It will certainly have taken away a combined responsible response to the problems we face.

The cost of parking in towns has got out of hand. One now needs €4, €5 or €6 to park. If one must return to the town twice in a day to do one's shopping, it is a problem. Something should be done for people who are returning.

There is a lot to be said for a major national campaign. I suggest a national market day, a single day to focus on the towns. It should involve both economics and culture so people will feel comfortable coming into the towns. It should be a matter of increasing the footfall in towns through theatre, culture, sport or otherwise. If we had a single focus nationally, it would be particularly important.

I would love to believe that we might return to this subject in the very near future, as there are so many issues that need to be addressed. If, as part of our consultative process, we could invite to this Chamber, rather than a hidden room, a group of people to outline the issues confronting them and their considerable problems, it would be beneficial. If all people concerned throughout the country - not just those in towns - do not tackle the problem, it will become irredeemable.