Rose Conway-Walsh Condemns Storm Response and Business Failures
Rose Conway-Walsh addressed the Dáil on the Government's programme and the state response to Storm Oan, sharply criticising failures in infrastructure, power restoration and support for businesses. She called for immediate relief for impacted enterprises, a prompt VAT cut for food-based hospitality, entertainment and hairdressing, accelerated broadband rollout and rejection of the Sea to Trade Agreement.
Storm impact and power outages
The deputy highlighted the scale of outages after Storm Oan and said the Government was "flat footed" despite warnings. She cited ESB confirmation of citizens still without power in County Mayo and gave figures of 2,000 in Galway, 2,750 in Roscommon and 2,050 in Leitrim.
Support for affected businesses
She reported contact from hundreds of struggling businesses including farm and fishing enterprises and retail outlets, and asked whether the Government will introduce a scheme to support businesses impacted by the storm. She urged that a promised VAT reduction for food-based hospitality, entertainment and hairdressing be implemented without delay rather than waiting for budget negotiations.
Digital strategy and broadband access
Conway-Walsh welcomed the Programme for Government commitment to a new digital strategy and said she will work constructively on it, but warned that large parts of rural Ireland still lack high-speed internet. She cited the National Broadband Plan as confirmation that access remains a prerequisite for businesses and must be addressed immediately.
North-South economic cooperation and modelling
She pressed for a national competitiveness and productivity action plan that includes maximum engagement with Ministers in the North, especially finance, economy and infrastructure portfolios. She welcomed the recently launched ESRI microeconomic model, called it a game-changing tool for island-wide economic policy and noted IBEC's support, urging that further research be leveraged from it.
Opposition to the Sea to Trade Agreement
Conway-Walsh argued the Sea to Trade Agreement will not benefit SMEs, calling it a bad deal for workers' rights, the environment and the public purse. She urged that it should not be ratified and stressed the need for clarity and protection for businesses and workers as policy moves forward.
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Go raibh agat. Ministers, as we make statements here today in this House on the programme for Government, I am acutely aware of the people that have been failed across this state since this Government took office. We know this hasn't happened today or yesterday, this has gone back for years when we look at the infrastructure deficits, particularly in the West. Agus mair duith me, the response to the disaster for Storm Oan has demonstrated just how, what another five years of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael will mean for them. Today the ESB has confirmed the citizens still without power in County Mayo, number 2000 in Galway, 2750 Roscommon and 2050 in Leitrim. In this Government, you would have to really ask, is this Government's mantra to hell or to Connacht? The Government was completely flat footed, even though the likely damage following the storm was well flagged. Now I have been contacted by hundreds of businesses following the storm, including farm and fishing enterprises. Many of these businesses were already really, really struggling, struggling to stay open and we see that even in terms of retail businesses. When we see Mayo has been one of the highest counties with vacancies in retail premises. These businesses need help and they need help now. And my question to you today, Minister, is will the Government introduce a scheme to support businesses impacted by the storm? These businesses need to know. The Programme for Government commits to publish and implement a new digital strategy to fully realise the economic potential of digital and AI revolution. I would support the introduction of such a strategy and I look forward to working constructively to deliver it. However, as the Government is aware, far too many people across the state remain without broadband. Indeed, the National Broadband Plan confirms the large parts of rural Ireland still do not have access to high-speed internet. This is a prerequisite for businesses and must be addressed immediately. The Programme for Government makes further commitments to publish a new whole-of-government action plan for competitiveness and productivity within 12 months. This is critically important, but such a plan must be completed on a national basis, and I urge the Government to undertake the maximum level of engagement with Ministers in the Executive in the North, especially the Finance, Economy and Infrastructure Ministers, as there is much joined-up work which can be done for the betterment of all. In the recently launched ESRI microeconomic model, this will be vital and a game-changing tool for the development of economic policy across the island. I welcome the innovations that it will bring and I am delighted that IBEC has supported this work as well. What you need to do, Ministers, is to ensure that the further research can be leveraged from that. I do welcome in the Programme for Government the aim that all departments would be tasked with having a North-South remit on specific areas of their portfolios. I really want to see that that developed. But ahead of the general election as well, the Government committed to lowering the VAT rate of food-based hospitality, entertainment and hairdressing businesses. Now this doesn't appear on the Programme for Government, although media reports have indicated this will be a part of budget negotiations. Ministers, that is way too long. It's way too long to wait, particularly in the aftermath of this storm. That has to be brought forward, that the VAT rate will be reduced without any further delay. There is nobody benefits from businesses going to the wall, least of all the people who are employed by those businesses and the business owners who have worked so hard there. These industries need clarity as to which businesses are affected so that the Government must move at a pace with the commitment around the VAT rate as well. Now I note that the Finance Minister in the North, John O'Dowd, has stated his intention to raise this matter with the British Treasury in respect of businesses in the North as well. And I think that the Ireland harmonisation in this measure is extremely important and it's something that I will be seeking progress on. As well, Minister, the Programme for Government describes the Sea to Trade Agreement as benefiting Irish SMEs. Now I want to clearly state that it will do no such a thing. It is a bad deal, it's a bad deal for workers' rights, it's bad for the environment and it's bad for the public purse and it should not be ratified.
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