Richard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The first day I came to the Dáil, I was greeted by a good Limerick man who brought me in. His first bit of advice for me was to get lost if I wanted to learn the House. When I asked what he meant he said I should get lost and go into every corridor and room because I would eventually find out where to go. He said I would learn very fast and it was only the way to get experience of the House. I compliment the staff, from the cleaning and canteen staff to the ushers and office staff, on the help they have given me as a first-time Independent TD and the first Independent TD for Limerick. It was a learning curve for me but the support I received from the staff here was unbelievable. We have become great friends and they have done a lot with me and for me.

I have been a businessman all my life. When I look at the Cabinet I say to myself that it does not reflect the country because there is not the right mix. There is good people with different types of education in the Cabinet but it does not represent this country as a whole. In other words, if you want to bake a cake, you have to have all the ingredients. That is why the Government has failed to represent the country as a whole. It has represented some sectors but has forgotten about the hospitality sector. Cutting the VAT rate for hospitality to 9% would have saved jobs and businesses. The Government is giving grants to new businesses that are opening up but they only last two years and then close down. The businesses that have been operating for 20 or 30 years cannot get supports from the Government to keep them in businesses. The Government gives supports to new businesses to open up and says there has never been so many businesses, but those businesses then close down after two years because they realise that without Government assistance, they cannot stay open. What is there to keep businesses alive?

I have been in business all my life. I am a building contractor and a blocklayer by trade. I am an early school leaver. I received the education of life and it tells me that if you do not have the basic foundations to build on, it will not work. That was shown when people from Ukraine came here looking for help. When the Government tried to accommodate them around the country it found out there was no proper infrastructure in place outside Dublin and the major cities. That is where the failure of the Government has come from. The Government does not reflect the country as a whole and has forgotten about rural Ireland from the Red Cow outwards. It has forgotten the basics that communities, small businesses, agriculture, farming and transport deliver. The Government has forgotten to invest in rural Ireland. If you invest in small things in rural Ireland, they will invest in you because they are self-sufficient. They will not give out. All we ask is that the Government give rural Ireland the basic infrastructure it is giving to other people.

I have respect for the Minister in his role but I would like him to learn that he and the Cabinet have to represent this country as a whole. It is not all about the capital. The capital is supposed to be the base that should flourish and bring along all communities and counties equally together. I support the Bill.

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