Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree with everything that has been said. The self-employed are the unsung heroes of this country, those who have gone out of business and those who managed to survive because they took nothing from their businesses for themselves. I commend Senator Butler on tabling this motion. I have good news for him - we now have a Minister in the Department of Social Protection who lives in the real world and who will make it happen. He knows the scenario for the self-employed. He realises that the country will become great again because of the entrepreneurs and others who are prepared to take risks and who are willing to put their necks on the line and work not just during the week but also at weekends in order to create jobs. He realises that when, after all that, a business does not succeed, people need a fallback. We have a Minister who will make that happen. I look forward to it happening.