Proposals to aid Self-Employed and Small Businesses Welcomed

I welcome the news today that the Government are planning to help self-employed workers, family business owners and farmers who become unemployed by giving them entitlement to social welfare payments under a new plan which will be unveiled next week. I proposed that these changes should take place at least six months ago and I am also calling on the Government to put a plan in place with regard to rates to aid small business people. This would be a big help to small enterprises in rural areas who need incentives to start up and stay in business in their first few years. We need a total change of attitude in terms of red tape and beaurocracy with regard to job creation and the establishment of small businesses. It is the only way we can aid economic activity in rural Ireland.