Garret Ahearn (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister very much for his response and agree with everything he said. Any time I speak with businesses in Tipperary, the very first thing they say, before they make a request, is that they recognise what this Government has done over the past number of years, particularly during the Covid-19 period, in supporting them and their employees and in keeping them alive. That has been crucial.

However, we do not want to get to a point where we helped them during Covid and kept them alive but being there when they really need us again. I recognise that if we do it for food-led businesses, it will cost over €500 million but, as I said, every business closing is costing us €1.36 million. If two are closing a day, we will quickly arrive at the €500 million it will cost to do this.

Supporting these businesses is the right thing to do. We have done it for a number of years and we can do it again temporarily. This supports businesses in rural areas like my own. It supports employment and has a knock-on effect on the rural economy. It is the main request they are bringing to the table for this budget and while it is a matter for the Minister for Finance to make those financial decisions in the budget, we are very much asking for him to put as much pressure as he can on the Department of Finance to ensure those businesses are supported.

That some 74% of businesses are saying they will close if the 9% VAT rate is not returned is a stark figure. We do not want to get to the point where that number of businesses will be closing right across our country.