Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail)

It is good to have the opportunity to have this debate with the Minister. We appreciate his time because we know how busy he is and how demanding the role is. It is important that we have this discussion. It is one a number of Senators have sought. There is no doubt that we are recognised internationally as a very competitive economy, but equally it is absolutely fundamental that we do not become complacent. There is quite a bit of work to do to make sure that we can meet the many challenges coming down the line. The challenges we have had to come through over the past few years have required us to think outside the box in terms of dealing with Brexit, the pandemic and the cost of living, and facing into possible US tariffs. It is a difficult time.

People who are entrepreneurs and are investing in their businesses need to know they have the support of our Government and we are steadfast in that commitment. Senator Fitzpatrick mentioned a meeting last week with RGDATA. There were two main themes. One was the cost of doing business, which, as we know, is constantly increasing, in particular energy costs. While in the past we have provided supports and I hope we do so again, we need to make sure grants are not tied up in red tape. It is very difficult for somebody who is putting huge hours into a shop and perhaps has to cut staff in order to keep a shop open to then have to spend hours pushing a pen in order to access grants. That is really important.

Despite being aware of the issue, I was shocked by the discussion on retail crime. Listening to the stories last week and stories I have heard from businesses in Kildare of brazen shoplifting was shocking. People who have committed hundreds of offences have never done time in jail. Time after time they come in brazenly to steel goods. Businesses operate under small margins. The businesses we rely on to keep our communities, villages and towns going are local shops. When we are driving home after a late night we want to call into such shops and be able to get a pint of milk, a sliced pan or whatever. We have a duty to support such businesses. We have had a conversation with the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, on this issue. We have to do what we can to protect those businesses because not alone do they provide an excellent service to all of us in terms of goods, but they also provide raffle prizes for community games and local sports clubs.

An accelerated development of a new whole-of-government action plan on competitiveness and productivity has been announced. The plan will identify concrete and actionable reforms across every Department to enhance the competitive edge that we have internationally and in our domestic economy. While our economy is resilient and we have full employment, there are significant challenges. There are labour market constraints and infrastructure development issues. That is why it is important to acknowledge the forthcoming review of the national development plan and the plan for the new accelerated infrastructure task force launched by the Minister, Deputy Chambers, last week.For example, I spoke to a small business the day before yesterday about our new free schoolbooks scheme, which is great. When it was introduced, the then Minister for Education emphasised that local shops, the ones that had always supplied the schoolbooks, should still be able to supply them. However, I understand that there is now a big player in the market that is selling below cost and trying to take all the business. We should be introducing proactive measures to ensure the small shops and businesses can continue to provide schoolbooks to our children. The initiative is great but we need to ensure we do not lose out.

I am aware that there will be a ministerial summit in July. It is important and we look forward to having a debate with the Minister after it. The establishment of a dedicated small business unit is to be very much welcomed.