Hogan’s motion to help local business is defeated
By Naoise Coogan
Local business suffering as a result of the recession will have to suffer on, following the defeat of a motion in the Dail recently that would have seen a lifeline of sorts thrown to struggling small businesses.
An effort by Kilkenny deputy Phil Hogan to help hundreds of businesses throughout Kilkenny was voted down in the Dail by Fianna Fail TDs.
Deputy Hogan called for the Government to freeze all Government charges on businesses until 2012.
Following the motion’s defeat, Deputy Hogan castigated Fianna Fail TDs for their shortsightedness. He added that business rates imposed by local authorities were seriously harming competitiveness and job creation.
He questioned why Government TDs would block such a motion when the Government have already pledged to freeze business rates in the past.
“Ireland needs a competitive, indigenous business base to return this country to a secure financial footing. Lower business costs are needed to restore competitiveness. Our businesses already pay some of the highest energy costs in Europe and are burdened with needless red tape and bureaucratic road blocks,” he added.
“Our small and medium businesses are vital to the health of both the national and local economy. Small businesses employed over 800,000 people in every town and village in the country before the worst of the current crisis hit. They also contribute billions in tax to the national finances every year. The current crisis has hit them hard, with scores shutting down and many people put on social welfare.
“While Fianna Fáil was part of the problem, Fine Gael will be part of the solution. As the largest party in local government, we will be putting the long term needs of the country and economy first by pressurising all political parties in all local authorities to sign up to a business rates freeze until at least 2012 in order to keep costs stable,” he concluded.
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