Feargal Quinn joins Euro election canvass for Seanad colleague Mullen

Independent Euro election candidate Senator Ronan Mullen has hit out at Government for not being more proactive in stimulating growth in small businesses in towns and villages across Ireland. Senator Mullen was speaking today while on the European election campaign trail in Navan, Co. Meath, accompanied by fellow Senator Feargal Quinn.

Senator Mullen said:

“There are a number of steps which Government, central and local, must take to improve the lot of small business owners and stimulate economic growth. For example, landlords of derelict premises – often banks and building societies – are undermining the efforts of towns and villages across Ireland to recover from the recession. Derelict landlords should either clean up their premises or put them on the market.”

“High car-parking fees are stopping people from coming into town centres to do business. Crippling commercial rates bills continue to bankrupt business owners and discourage entrepreneurship.”

“It’s time the Government got on the side of small business,” Senator Mullen said.

He praised Senator Feargal Quinn’s Upward Only Rent (Clauses and Reviews) Bill 2013 passed in the Seanad in February which seeks to ensure that business owners with leases containing upward only rent review provisions can engage in a special rent review process. The Bill is due to go before the Dáil for consideration.

Speaking about the Rent Review Bill while on the canvass with Ronan Mullen, Senator Feargal Quinn said:

“There is no doubt that the Government must support the SME sector as a significant employer and driver of the economy. The Upward Only Rent (Clauses and Reviews) Bill which supports business tenants in seeking fairer rent provisions could go a long way towards easing the financial pressures on small business owners, thereby allowing them to invest in growing their ventures which in turn will boost local economies.”

Summing up, Senator Mullen said:

“Now is the time to tackle the problems of the main streets of our towns and villages, before it’s too late.”

Independent Senator and European Election candidate Rónán Mullen was joined by his Seanad colleague Feargal Quinn on the campaign trail in Navan. During the canvass, they visited various businesses in Navan to discuss the challenges facing small and independent business across the region including commercial rates and expensive and limited car parking within Navan. Among the businesses visited were Kiernan and Sons (shoes and sportswear), David McGrane in his Butchers Shop, Smith Harrington Auctioneers and various retailers in Navan Town Centre.