Feargal Quinn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Everything I intended to say has been said already by the previous two speakers, particularly Senator Cullinane. I have travelled around the country a good deal in recent years and seen the challenges facing the large number of small businesses, many of which employ only half a dozen people or fewer. Expecting them to bear the cost of this measure will be a major burden. We are hearing all the right sounds from the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, but not enough is being done to address the huge burden for small businesses. If we are to succeed in overcoming the jobs crisis, we must focus on positive initiatives. This particular measure is the very opposite of that and is the wrong way to proceed.