I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this matter on the cumulative regulatory burden and the rising cost of doing business. It is certainly not an abstract issue. As someone born and raised in a family business, I am acutely aware of the challenges that many businesses face. I am very conscious that the two Ministers of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Deputies Niamh Smyth and Alan Dillon, and the Minister, Deputy Burke, have very much taken a proactive approach in their Department, constructively leading to strong results by adopting a simpler, lighter and faster approach to enterprise and the sector. We have seen nearly 15,000 new companies registered in the first half of 2026, a 13% increase on the same period last year. At that pace of increase in registration, we are going to see one of the strongest years ever in relation to company registrations. There is no doubt that Ireland is a great place to invest. We are seeing exceptional growth in artificial intelligence and digital technology, as well as pharmaceuticals and manufacturing. For many small and micro-businesses and family businesses, however, viability is becoming an increasing challenge. These are businesses that are the cornerstone of local communities, sponsoring local events, community groups and sports organisations. For many of them, it is now a question of survival. Since I entered this House, I have done a considerable amount of work trying to highlight that. I carried out a survey last year on foot of which 600 business owners highlighted the concerns they had around the future viability of their businesses. This has been built on by ISME, which found that 78% of respondents cited business costs as a big issue facing SMEs. That is also recognised by the Small Firms Association, which points to a 40% cumulative increase in costs over the past three years. My fear is that the burden of these costs is being placed on employers and is reducing the number of employees and employers, specifically small businesses. Not every business has the potential or wants to scale up. We have made progress in relation to the likes of the 9% VAT rate. I have met many of these businesses over recent weeks, and they have basically said that this was the difference between being in profit and being in loss. It is Government recognition of the challenges and is very much welcomed, but we need to continue to address viability. When we look at some of the reports from the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, in recent weeks, in which it has stated that more businesses need to consider switching, we note that this comes down to a lack of time for many of them. They are spending more time behind a desk and less time at the counter, where they should be serving customers. There are growing regulatory complexities and burdens, demanding tax obligations, investment needed in energy efficiencies, insurance premium hikes, complex applications for Government supports, and unattainable legal and planning costs. An Coimisiún Pleanála announced this week that it will be up to a year before it has a decision on the water pipeline from the mid-west to Dublin. If that is what it takes for the largest infrastructure development the country has ever seen, at a cost of €5.9 billion, what encouragement does it give to a small business that wants to expand or introduce a storage facility? There is a real need for urgent action by the Government to engage with An Coimisiún Pleanála to ensure this process is not delayed and that we see delivery from small business, societal and economic perspectives. Overall, the SME test has been beneficial and productive, and we need to continue to do that. I ask that concrete steps be considered for budget 2027 that will see meaningful and impactful measures to ensure the survival of small and medium businesses, and to build on the work we have seen with the recently introduced 9% VAT rate for the hospitality sector, provided for in budget 2026.

Sentiment score: 0.24

I have a number of asks. First, we need to look at the effectiveness of the local enterprise office, LEO, reporting to the local authority and Enterprise Ireland. There is a question there of effectiveness. I would also like to see the local authority leading out on enterprise parks to give opportunities for businesses. I would like to see more competition in the banking sector and looking at new creative ways of accessing finances for small businesses. I would like to see the following approach. A good example is what the Vintners’ Federation of Ireland, VFI, has proposed in relation to an on-trade keg of draft beer or cider sustainability scheme where there would be proportionate and focused support for small pubs, considering their vital role in local communities. They are no different from newsagents or hardware stores where they are providing not just employment and economic activity but they are social anchors in our community as well. This scheme proposing a tax credit of €20 on every 50-litre keg of draft beer would be a huge tangible benefit to our local communities. I ask for it to be considered in the 2027 budget. This will not just protect the heart and soul of our commercial trading but it will protect our social activity and jobs and will support businesses. We would continue to see that rural and regional development and activity and build on the work that has been done. I do not want this to be seen as being critical of the Government. We are moving in the right direction. We are on the right trajectory in relation to trying to cut out that red tape to ensure there is a seamless way of going about business and that it is encouraged. Far too often, we see now where there are challenges around succession from one generation to the next in family businesses. We have to ask: why is that happening? We need to see a broader and greater appeal and ensure that we do not see lights go out. One in five pubs has closed over the past 20 years. We see similar trends in relation to shops like newsagents and others. There is a real opportunity now to build on the work of VAT 9 in the last budget and to ensure that we continue to support small business.

Sentiment score: 0.28