Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

One of the drawbacks of speaking last is that one runs out of time and nobody remains to listen. As they say, that is politics. They will say that they are in their offices.

First and foremost, I welcome the fact that it is local enterprise week. It is a very positive time for businesses. I also wish to acknowledge the 31 local enterprise offices, LEOs, across the 31 local authorities that do enormous work on enterprise. The LEOs are very positive in respect of promoting entrepreneurship, fostering business, encouraging start-ups, assisting microbusinesses, medium businesses and small enterprises. It is most important work. I believe that the local enterprise offices have been in place for approximately 14 years, certainly a good number of years, during which time they have gone from strength to strength, which is positive. LEOs provide advice and information and support local business start-ups. They help to increase job potential in all communities, as well as developing and supporting existing businesses. That is also positive. LEOs support businesses and innovation in order to develop, expand and further develop their markets. That is another important aspect.

Speaking of LEOs, I had thought that I would be speaking to Leo, that is, the Tánaiste today, who is ultimately the Minister with responsibility for this area but I do understand that he is attending an online link-up as part of the promotion of local enterprise week. I wish the Tánaiste and his Department well with those link-ups today. They are an important aspect of his work and Ministry. I am particularly pleased that he is engaging online with new and young entrepreneurs this morning, as local enterprise week is launched.

This Commencement matter concerns microenterprise, and the important aspects of developing small to medium enterprises that have a green agenda. It is possible to have sustainable industry, business and development, while also having profitable business, development and enterprises. The task for all of us is to deliver that synergy, fusion and merging, not of conflict, but the merging of those important competing and compatible interests. First, I would like to hear more about the pilot schemes. It will be important that those pilot schemes are put in place right across the country and not just in the south east. I am aware that there are some operating in the midlands, as well as other parts of the country.

I will finish by stating that green entrepreneurship has the potential to be a catalyst for positive change. That synergy of sustainability and profitability is extremely important. There is a new generation of environmentally-conscious people who want to see business done in a different and sustainable way. As someone from a rural constituency himself, the Minister of State will be aware of the importance of agri-enterprise and artisan food enterprise, and the synergy that can be achieved between sustainability and profitability. I will leave it at that. At some point in the future, the Tánaiste should come to the House to discuss this issue. He made many pronouncements last week about the startling unemployment figures. We must start again, in many places, in respect of building new jobs. I would appreciate it if the Tánaiste could organise and schedule himself to come to the Seanad to debate the issue of enterprise.