Pádraig Ó Céidigh (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach. The Leader was very actively involved in helping to promote it, as was Bridget Doody and the team in the Seanad Office. I do not want it to lie at that. Will the Leader give an undertaking to facilitate a full debate on the SME sector, as he indicated he would do? That debate must include a discussion on procurement. The Exchequer will spend some €100 billion in the next five years on public procurement, of which SMEs will receive approximately 3% to 4% in value terms. If we could double that allocation, it would make a huge difference to SMEs and to the whole economy. The procurement process must be totally overhauled. Will the Leader ask the Minister to come to the House for a debate on that issue? Ireland is 12th in Europe when it comes to SME share of Government contracts. The contracts these companies do get are small, with none securing a project worth more than €300,000. The percentage of SMEs tendering in this country is much smaller than is the case in any other country in Europe, where they secure three times as many contracts as Irish SMEs do here. It is an issue that requires serious examination. We have great SMEs that are run by passionate people. We need to give them a fair crack of the whip. The last thing they want is an advantage or privilege, but they must have a fair chance. I thank the Leader and the Cathaoirleach for all the support they have given me in my role as rapporteur for the report on the SME sector.