Mayo Fine Gael TD John O Mahony lobbied for small businesses during his contribution to the Economic and Fiscal debate on Wednesday last in Dail Eireann.
Dep O’Mahony stated: “The majority of the four million people on this island are not economists or fiscal experts and they are probably fed up hearing about deficits, front-loading, GDPs, GNPs, €5 billion, €30 billion etcetera. The only thing they know for certain is that in four weeks time they will face one of the harshest budgets in the history of the State.
“They are desperate for clarity and certainty as to how the budget will impact on them and their families. Along with that clarity and certainty, they have to be given some hope of a brighter future they can look to with confidence.
“Instead of clarity, certainty, hope and confidence, PAYE workers, business people and the unemployed are confused and uncertain. Many are in despair and lack any belief in their future.
“The Government has asked for consensus in this House in order to deal with the massive financial crisis. If the Government would just put their hands up and say they got us into this mess”. Dep O’Mahony added it was also reasonable for hard pressed business men to look for a consensus approach from the banks on how they are supposed to face their cash and credit problems.
“It is not acceptable for bankers, whom the taxpayer has saved from extinction, to act in a high-handed and arbitrary manner. Let us have a consensus here, forcing the banks to be fair to our small businesses.
The Government must send a clear signal that it is playing to the same rules as the people. That has not happened in the past. The waste and squander mania continues.”
