Hildegarde Naughton (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise the matter of the newly released InterTradeIreland report, which notes that small and domestic firms throughout Ireland are reporting a recovery and, most important, these small firms are non-exporters and are reliant on the domestic market. Among the notable statistics are that 88% of these firms are reporting they are in a stable or growth mode and 43% have reported a rise in the last quarter. These are the most positive results since 2008 and it shows that firms of all sizes and in all sectors are experiencing a recovery. Put simply, approximately nine in ten businesses are stable or growing and this is the highest figure since the recession. It is welcome to see these figures in regard to domestic demand and it shows signs of a true recovery taking place.