Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister. The topic is statements on economic growth and job creation. There is no doubt the huge strides the Government has made to restore the public finances are incredibly commendable. However, many people do not feel it. While the Government is doing it for the country, it appears to be hurting too many people in the process. It is a shame we do not marry up the public with the personal more. I know that is the Minister's intention.

That the Government is talking about broadening the tax bands is commendable. My advice would be to slow down with the charges. To introduce water charges, while it is a structural reform, is a mistake. People are not feeling the progress the Government is making because there are too many outgoings and too many stealth taxes.

On the issue of SMEs, we know that more than half the population is employed by the SME sector, even though that sector has been on the floor. I am doing some work with SMEs and the biggest issue preventing people from employing more is employer's PRSI. We must have an actuary out there who can work out the number of people for whom we need not charge employer's PRSI as long as they employ X number of people. There must be a quid pro quo there. Those are my two points. There is much more I could say. Perhaps I can ask the Leas-Chathaoirleach and the Leader to apportion more time to debates such as this. I thank the Minister for his time.