Sinn Féin welcomes the overall intention of this Bill. We have been calling for the streamlining of enterprise supports for a long time now. Sinn Féin and I are glad to see the progress in this space. Measures that improve access to supports, modernise industrial development legislation and help businesses transition towards a lower carbon and digital economy are long overdue. There is no question that many businesses are facing enormous pressures. Rising energy and fuel costs, increasing operational expenses, insurance costs and the demands of digitalisation and decarbonisation are all placing huge strain on businesses across the State. Where this legislation seeks to simplify access to supports, reduce unnecessary administrative burdens, and improve the delivery of grants and consultancy supports, Sinn Féin supports these objectives. The success or failure of this Bill will depend on one thing, namely whether SMEs are genuinely prioritised. SMEs are the backbone of our economy. They account for 99% of business and employ the majority of workers across the State, particularly in rural towns and villages and regional economies. Too often, enterprise policy in the State has focused heavily on attracting and supporting large multinational investment while indigenous Irish businesses struggle to access the same level of support and strategic attention. That must change. Environmental protection grants and digitalisation supports all sound wonderful on paper but they must not become schemes that are easily navigated by large corporations, while smaller businesses are left behind due to complex bureaucracy or lack of resources. For many SMEs, particularly family-run and locally owned businesses, the challenge is not willingness. Businesses want to invest in energy efficiency. They want to modernise, reduce emissions and lower energy costs. The problem is affordability and accessibility. Many small enterprises simply do not have the upfront capital or dedicated administration staff to navigate lengthy applications, consultancy processes or complicated terms and conditions. Supports must be practical, accessible and responsive to the realities facing smaller firms. If a small manufacturer in Monaghan, a tourism business in Cavan or a family-run enterprise in rural Ireland cannot realistically access these supports, then they are not worth the paper they are printed on. Sinn Féin particularly welcomes efforts to widen environmental protection grants, consultancy supports for sustainability and digital transition. Businesses need support to adopt greener technology, improve competitiveness and reduce long-term costs. This is not only important for climate targets, it is critical for future resilience in the indigenous sector. However, simplification must still go hand in had with accountability and transparency. Public money must always be subject to proper oversight and deliver clear economic and social value. On the provisions relating to strategic investment and designated activity company, DAC, structures, Sinn Féin believes there is merit in strengthening the State's capacity to deliver industrial sites and strategic infrastructure, but, again, regional balance matters. Enterprise investment cannot continue to be concentrated in Dublin and a handful of urban centres while other places struggle to attract jobs and investment. This legislation must support balanced regional development and sustainable local employment across the State. I will briefly touch on my constituency of Cavan-Monaghan. Last week, I visited Silver Hill Duck, which is marking the beginning of construction of a new processing facility in Emyvale in County Monaghan. It is a great Irish company that provides good employment locally. Enterprise Ireland was there, as was the Minister of State, as they should be. Silver Hill Duck is an example of tremendous success; a company that started with six ducks in 1962, now provides more than 6 million ducks worldwide. Sometimes in the past we had issues with IDA Ireland and Ministers when things did not go to plan and with factories or sites where projects were not developed or where there were business closures or job losses. I ask the Minister to reflect on this and, in practice, to engage and be on the ground, even more so when challenges arise. That is even more important in communities in Cavan and Monaghan, which have seen not only a dearth of inward investment under successive Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael Governments but sometimes a dearth of interest. In one case, IDA Ireland completed an advanced technology building in Monaghan business and technology park in 2021 but it still remained vacant last year. I would appreciate it if the Minister could provide an explanation for this as well as outline future plans for the site. To address the proposed removal of section 8(5) of the Science and Technology Act 1987, while the amendment is intended to modernise access to EU defence and security-related funding opportunities, Ireland's military neutrality must remain fully protected. Overall, Sinn Féin welcomes the intent of the Bill. We support measures that make enterprise supports more efficient, more accessible and better suited to the challenges businesses now face but we will continue to work to ensure SMEs, indigenous enterprise and regional communities are not treated as secondary considerations. This must be a priority. If our small businesses succeed, local communities succeed, regional economies grow and jobs are protected.

Sentiment score: 0.35