George Lawlor urges bolder action on Ireland's social enterprise policy

Minister, I am glad today to speak on this issue of Ireland's national social enterprise policy. And in speaking on it, I also reflect on its deeper promise, its transformative potential and the urgent need to elevate it from policy to practice, from vision to reality. Because this should not be just a policy, it should be a philosophy. A philosophy that says business can be more than profit, that trade can be rooted in purpose, that communities can be empowered not by charity but by opportunity. Social enterprises are the quiet revolutionaries of our economy. They are the community cafes that employ people with addiction issues or disabilities, the recycling hubs that tackle both waste and unemployment, the youth programmes that give hope to those who have been told they have none. They are the organisations that see a problem and build a solution, not for profit alone but for impact. As the document says itself, social enterprises play an important role in promoting social inclusion and equality, providing supports and employment opportunities to more marginalised groups and minorities such as the long-term unemployed, people with disabilities, migrants, the traveller community and former offenders. They can address societal issues such as food, poverty, housing, provision and the environment. And now with this policy, Ireland has taken, I suppose, a bold step. But it will only be a bold step if we make a concerted effort to make it work. We have recognised social enterprise as a distinct and vital sector. We have committed to raising awareness, improving access to supports and building capacity. We have acknowledged that social enterprise is not a fringe idea. It is central to the kind of Ireland we want to build. But let us be honest, we are only at the beginning. This policy is a foundation, not a finish line. It sets the stage, but our performance is yet to come. And if we are serious about unlocking the full potential of social enterprise, we must go further. We must be braver and we must be bolder. Because the challenges are very, very real. Social enterprises face barriers that traditional businesses do not. They often operate in areas of deep disadvantage with limited access to capital, infrastructure and skilled labour. They are driven by mission but constrained by resources. We ask them to do more with less. And yet, they persist. They innovate, they uplift, they transform. I have spoken before in this chamber about the wonderful Café Connect in Wexford and how it transforms the lives of people and at the same time operates a top class social enterprise. In the heart of Wexford town. But it is essential that we continue to invest. Not just in projects, but in people. Social entrepreneurs are among the most passionate and resilient leaders in our country. But passion alone cannot pay rent. We need the dedicated funding streams that support start-up, scale-up and sustainability. We need the multi-annual funding models that allow for long-term planning and not short-term survival. We must also reform procurement. Too often, social enterprises are locked out of public contracts because they cannot compete on price alone. But what about value, Minister? What about impact? What about the social return on investment? We must embed social clauses into procurement policy so that contracts reward not just efficiency, but equity. We must build ecosystems. Social enterprises thrive when they are connected to mentors, to investors, to policy makers. I was delighted recently to bring Cafe Connect together with Wexford Chamber with a view to acting as mentors for the team. Collaboration like this brings so much more than business mentoring. It breaks down barriers and develops relationships and respect that may never have happened. We need regional hubs, incubators and networks that foster collaboration and innovation. We need to ensure that rural social enterprises are not left behind, that minority-led initiatives are uplifted, that every corner of Ireland feels the benefit of trading for impact. We must also educate. Social enterprise should not be a mystery, it should be a mainstream option. We must integrate it into our schools, our universities, our business courses. We must inspire the next generation to see business not just as a career but as a calling. We must measure what matters also. Impact is not always visible on a balance sheet, but it is felt in lives changed, in communities strengthened, in hope restored. We need robust frameworks to capture that impact, to tell the stories, to prove the value, to make the case for continued support, because, as we know, the case is very strong. Social enterprises, of course, also create jobs, especially for those often furthest from the labour market. They tackle social inclusion, rural isolation and environmental degradation. They build community resilience and foster civic engagement. They can be, and often are, the engines of equality, and they do so with dignity. I personally know young women who found employment in social enterprises in Wexford after years of addiction. There are dozens of people like them who have been given the opportunity, the second chance that they grabbed with both hands. These are not just stories. They are transformations. And they are happening every day thanks to social enterprise. But imagine what more we could do, with real investment, with real support and with real belief. Imagine a country where every town has a thriving social enterprise hub, where every school teaches the principle of ethical business, where every government department embeds social value into its contracts, where every citizen knows that trade can be a tool for justice. That is the Ireland we must build, and we must build together, because social enterprise is not just the responsibility of one department, it is the opportunity of every department. It touches health, it touches education, it touches environment, it touches justice and, of course, enterprise. It is cross-cutting, cross-sectoral and cross-community. And delightfully to say, it is growing. Across Europe, social enterprise is gaining momentum. Ireland must not just follow, but we can and we must lead. We can be the country and we must be the country that proves that business can be inclusive, that trade can be transformative, that impact can be the bottom line. Now, let us not just settle for policy on paper, let us deliver policy in practice, let us fund, support and celebrate social enterprise, not as a niche, but as a national priority. Let us be remembered as the people and the parliamentarians that talked about impact, but as the people and the parliament that traded for it. Because when we invest in social enterprise, we invest in people, in potential, in progress. We invest in the women who start sewing cooperatives in their community. In the man who turns his prison experience into a mentoring programme for at-risk youth. In the young people who build climate solutions from the ground up. When we are doing this, we are investing in this country. And Ireland, that is fairer, greener, kinder and stronger. So, today we must say to all social entrepreneurs that we see you, we believe in you, we stand with you and most of all, we invest in you. Minister, let us act, let us lead and let us trade as it says for impact. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Deputy Neville. Thank you. Thank you.