We need a minister for the self-employed

During the Pat Kenny radio show on Jul 6, Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney made an impressive case for farmers to be compensated for the impact that the wet summer is having on their livelihoods’ by bringing forward their EU payments.

When a text from a taxi driver was read out asking ‘who will compensate taxi drivers for not being able to work because of ‘flooded roads’ it was viewed as anti-farmer.

It wasn’t — it was a statement of fact, a fact that pertains to thousands of self-employed people whose livelihoods depend on fine summer weather also. Small businessrs belonging to sole operators with one or two employees, full or part time, were already suffering in the recession, the wet summer has really put the boot in. Tradesmen, small building contractors, landscapers, gardeners, silage contractors, small shops at seaside locations — the list is endless!

The money that is turned over by these groups is the lifeblood of small communities and the wet weather is decimating output. Yet we have no voice, no minister championing our cause.

The know alls and securely employed, even the unemployed on State benefit, will say that it’s our own tough luck and that it goes with the territory. But farmers are self-employed and they have the benefit of their land and livestock as a back up. More importantly they have a minister who is doing his utmost to see that they will be compensated for their woes.

In a year the Government has announced that income tax receipts are far better than expected it wouldn’t be unrealistic for them to consider giving hard-pressed self-employed people a break. What about a tax-amnesty or a percentage tax amnesty for this summer period? Would that break the bank? It would go a long way to help paying business-related bills that have to be paid and keep the show on the road.

Unfortunately, the self-employed have no plan to beat the bad weather or to make up the financial shortfall that it will cause. Is there any politician who will go to bat for them in the way that Minister Coveney has done for the farming community?

Tom Fitzgerald

Askeaton

Co Limerick