Pádraig Ó Céidigh (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Táim buíoch as ucht deis labhairt anseo inniu mar gheall ar chúrsaí gnóthaí beaga small and medium sized enterprises. I totally echo and support Senator Robbie Gallagher's comments. Tá an ceart aige go hiomlán. It is a major issue. We in both Houses are neglecting small and medium-sized businesses in Ireland and particularly in the Border counties. These are the heart and soul of sustaining employment throughout the State with 97% of businesses being SMEs.

Will the Leader speak to or connect with the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Humphreys, to ask her to come to the House? There is a major issue with insurance. The Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association, ISME, has conducted research recently on 850 SMEs that shows 83% of those SMEs are experiencing increases in insurance premiums. We will debate the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2018 in this House later. I very much welcome that legislation. I received a phone call this morning on my way to the House from a person who has a business in the midlands. Three years ago he employed 65 people and today he is employing about 115 people. He has four cases of people looking to bring insurance claims against him. A person can bring a claim against an employer and I have no problem with that. I do have a problem, however, when on some occasions the claims are vexatious and may not be 100%. I very much welcome the Bill.

I am the rapporteur for the Seanad Public Consultation Committee, which has drafted a comprehensive report that is very near completion and will be published shortly. This report will give us an indication of the roadmap of the SMEs in Ireland. Subject to the committee's approval and under the chairmanship of the Leas-Chathaoirleach of the Seanad, Senator Coghlan, it is hoped we will have an opportunity to debate the issue and have a full session debate in this House with the relevant Ministers. It affects tourism, transport, enterprise, farming and Bord Iascaigh Mhara. I would very much welcome the comprehensive discussion and debate around that, if the Leader could facilitate that.