Small business is the backbone of entrepreneurship and economic activity in the Republic, the Tánaiste, Ms Harney, said yesterday at the launch of the Small Firms Association's (SFA) Better Business Show in Dublin.

The better business roadshow will travel to 22 locations around Ireland providing free advice and assistance on a range of cost issues to Ireland's small businesses.

It is organised by the SFA and six partner companies, including AIB, Eircom and the ESB, and will take place from January to March 2004.

Launching the initiative at the Irish Business Employer's Confederation (IBEC) headquarters in Dublin, the Tánaiste wished the roadshow well.

"If companies are going to succeed, clearly they've got to be competitive", she said. "I think it's important to take the message around the country to help businesses at a practical level.

"There are many things that I think peer-groups can do to help others in terms of their business operation.

"The six brands that have come together to support this roadshow of the SFA, I think, have an important role to play in providing guidance, expert speakers, mentors - whatever it might be - to help businesses with the practical problems of trying to operate in a very intense and very global market place."

The roadshow will cost €400,000-€500,000, according to Mr Pat Delaney of the SFA, with the bill being shared by the SFA and the companies involved.