Maria Byrne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Last Monday, the Minister of State, Deputy Higgins, and I met small businesses in Limerick. We met many family and niche businesses dealing in arts and crafts and produce. They spoke about how they were planning for Christmas and what they would do. This is an opportune time for the Government to provide funding for Christmas markets in many towns and villages around Ireland and to encourage tourists, whose numbers have increased, to visit those markets. The Department should consider incentivising and supporting these small businesses, as many of them are feeling the pinch. We all encourage people to shop local in our own localities. Were the Government to give support towards the running of Christmas or pop-up markets, it would be most welcome in many towns, villages and cities.