All parties must back law to help business

A Portlaoise/Abbeyleix local election candidate wants all parties to back a proposed law to can protect jobs.

David Ryan, of Fianna Fáil, says there should be a support for Senator Feargal Quinn’s bill on upward only rents for small business.

“The fact of the matter is that businesses are paying rates that were set when properties were massively overvalued in and around 2006. This problem is compounded by the fact that consumer spending and economic activity in the country is far lower than it was when these agreements were made.

“This is leading to local businesses feeling they have no way out and are as such are closing down. This negatively impacts upon the local economy as this in turn leads to the job losses of those they employ, which leads to less money in the area, which leads to less spending in other businesses in the area and so we see the cycle continue. Not to mention the impact on the families of the owner and the employees as they become unemployed,” said Mr Ryan in a statement.

He said the bill is good for employers, employees, the local economy and the community at large.