The Taoiseach lauds small businesses for their role in job creation and I fully support that. Does he accept, however, that there is no Government support for the start-up of small businesses and that within six months of starting one as many as 12 inspectors from 12 different Government agencies will descend on the business to harass the employer and close it? Is the Taoiseach making any effort to advise officials that small businesses need time to get their footing and that they should be given the time to do so?

There are 21 measures in this year's budget to support small business. The £100 million subsidised interest rate facility was brought forward and recently the Minister for Finance and his European partners agreed at the ECOFIN meeting to further subsidised interest rate facilities. The list of recommendations of the task force on small business is being implemented and a number has already been implemented.

No Government understands better and is doing more for the small business sector than this Government——

The Taoiseach is not aware of the little men with the briefcases that cause small businesses to close down.

Order, if the Deputy seeks to intervene, he should stand and seek the permission of the Chair.

——and it will continue to do so.