Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 120: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment further to Parliamentary Question No. 121 of 31 March 2009, if she is satisfied that the situation with regard to late payments is as portrayed in a survey (details supplied); if in view of the findings of that report, she will commission a comprehensive survey of late payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16285/09]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware of the survey to which the Deputy refers and the reported findings in relation to late payments.

As indicated in the response to Parliamentary Question No. 121 of 31 March 2009, developments in the financial sector and wider economy have broadened the concerns for SMEs in gaining access to working capital. Initiatives to address access to working capital were also addressed in that response.

I have no plans to undertake a survey of late payments at this stage. As the Deputy may be aware, the European Commission has just recently made proposals for amending the Late Payments Directive, 2000/35/EC. My Department has sought comments from the SME representative bodies in advance of negotiations of the proposal in the relevant EU Council working group.