Alex Cleland

I want to pay my staff better, but I'm paying the employer PRSI.

Employer PRSI, I would rather give that money to my staff rather than giving it to the government.

So if they said to me, okay, you're paying a couple of grand a week in employer PRSI, pay that money to your staff.

I'm paying out anyway, but I'd rather give it to my staff.

That cost is going to be there.

So if that cost is going to be there, give it to my staff.

They've got more disposable income, which means they can spend that in the economy or go on a holiday or, God forbid, actually put it towards buying a house if they could get one.

So, I mean, these type of things can benefit everyone.

But the government are just taking, taking and taking.

I mean, they're expecting us to pay.

We have to pay sick days.

We have to pay this to contribute to their pensions.

Now, in a smaller company that can't afford that, they have no choice.

Absolutely no choice whatsoever.

It is.

It is if it was affordable.

That's my point.

If it's affordable for a business that can do it, then fantastic.

But if it's a business that literally is on their knees, they're still being forced to pay it.

They've no choice.