Fianna Fail says more supports need to be given to self-employed people.

The opposition party says the Government has been spurred on by the approaching general election, by issuing small businesses with promises.

Fianna Fail says that credit should be more easily accessible for SMEs, as well as a financial safety net, in case a business fails.

The party's spokesperson on Jobs and Enterprise Dara Calleary, says there is little assistance given to Irish businesses when compared with international companies:

He added that business owners take huge risks without any financial safety net:

Mr Calleary added, “Ministers Richard Bruton and Ged Nash have utterly failed to protect small and medium businesses. They’ve buried their heads in the sand on the issue of access to credit, giving banks a free reign. The Government has given them more power and more money but has failed to get anything in return for small businesses."

Originally posted at 14.04