Paddy Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. The Finance Bill comes around fairly quickly. It does not feel like it has been 12 months since the last Finance Bill. I have a few questions for the Minister of State. I missed the opportunity to ask some of them of the Tánaiste when he was in the House earlier. The Department of Finance estimates that we will have spent €48 billion helping businesses and workers by the end of 2022. This is the largest intervention by the State since the bank guarantee scheme. In relation to that €48 billion, the impression is given that the supports are all provided to businesses and workers. I would like to know how much of that €48 billion is in State supports for the State sector. I am sure that some of it is for the State sector. We have seen a huge expansion in the health service. There are vaccination centres and extra staff in hospitals and other areas. I would like further information on the breakdown in relation to the €48 billion. I believe that some of that is going to State services and the State sector.

The Tánaiste also said that the Department is carrying out a review of the popular and oversubscribed future growth loan scheme with a view to introducing a new loan product to replace it in 2022. That is to be welcomed. I must say I believe that there is too much State involvement in every aspect of society now. The State has taken a huge interest in, and is providing significant funding for, the housing sector. I am not sure it is healthy for the State to have such an influence. Is there any option other than State intervention? I have heard Senators today giving out about vulture funds coming into the State and buying up apartments. We cannot have the State funding all the houses in the country. There are problems with the provision of housing and with our own pillar banks in relation to the provision of funding for small developers and small builders.I ask the Minister of State to consider, along with other Ministers, whether there is over-reliance on State funding in all sectors. I have highlighted two areas in which I believe the State should not have such an influence and should not have to provide such levels of support.

The Tánaiste referred to the small companies administrative rescue process, SCARP, legislation for small companies. As the Minister of State is aware, the legislation is very welcome. I welcome it because I have previously raised the issue of redundancy in the context of small businesses, sole traders, subcontractors and so forth. There is no doubt about the fact, alluded to by the Tánaiste, that there will be many failures of small businesses such as shops and pubs that will never open again. The owners will be left with a redundancy package and will have no choice but to pay it. The State will step in and pay but, eventually, it is taken out of the estate of the business owner. It is a very sad day when the finest employers in the country, sole traders who employ people all their lives, are the only sector in society that could end up having their house taken from them. The State probably will not go down that road and it is only right that employees get their two weeks' redundancy pay per year, but when the person dies and his or her affairs are settled, any funding that is owed to the State in the context of redundancy payments to former employees will be taken out of the estate. There could be a vulnerable family member in the house. This is an area that should be considered. I am bringing forward a Private Member's Bill on the issue. This is an area in which the family home should be protected. The Tánaiste brought in the SCARP legislation that will protect some areas of business from going into liquidation or all their assets, including their homes, being taken from them. I would welcome the Government considering the Bill I will be bringing forward and ensuring that family homes are protected.