Vol. 449 No. 2
66 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment if he is committed to the full implementation of the recommendations contained in the task force report on small business; the time scale for the recommendations to be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3414/95]
Consistent with the undertaking in A Government of Renewal, a concerted programme to help small business is being pursued within my Department. This programme will build on the advances made under the last Government in regard to the implementation of the recommendations of the Task Force on Small Business.
The Deputy will be aware that a small business and service division was established last June in my Department. This division's mission is to get the environment right for Irish small businesses and services firms. This objective is being tackled via the systematic assessment, costing and pursuit of the 121 recommendations of the small business task force together with the 82 recommendations which emerged from the task force on jobs in services. I expect significant progress in 1995 across the range of issues which are of concern to small business. The environment facing small business is a dynamic one and I hope to evolve new initiatives to ensure that the small business is facilitated in meeting the many competitive challenges which it faces.
