Feargal Quinn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I understand the wording the Minister of State has used in the Schedule. It states, under membership at paragraph (2)(b): "3 shall be appointed from among persons who, in the opinion of the Minister, have an understanding of the interests of employers, particularly small to medium-sized employers and those operating in traditionally low pay sectors".The Minister of State's heart is in the right place. However, the amendment moved by Senator White is much stronger and proposes the inclusion of a person who has the experience of running a small business. In response to a reference to the Minister for Finance some years ago, when I said I had a very high regard for him, I recall a very successful businessman saying that he was always worried about any Minister for Finance who never had to worry about where they would get the money to pay the wages at the end of the week. Lying awake at night wondering where one will get the money to pay the wages at the end of the week is a huge discipline, experience and education. The wording proposed by Senators White and Mooney is a much stronger than the wording in the Schedule. The Minister of State's heart is in the right place and he has the right objective but I believe that somebody who has had the experience of running a small business is worthy of consideration.