•    96% of SMEs expect job losses if proposal is introduced.

•    ‘Reckless’ proposal to introduce mandatory sick pay a ‘job killer’.

•    ISME calls on Burton to back down from ‘damaging’ proposal.

ISME, Friday 12th October 2011.
A major survey of SMEs carried out by ISME, the Irish Small & Medium Enterprises Association has confirmed that the proposal by Minister Burton to introduce mandatory sick pay of four weeks for employers will have a disastrous impact on competitiveness, jobs and absenteeism levels in the small and medium business sector. Read the rest of this entry »

·    54% of credit applications refused by bailed-out banks in last 3 months.
·    Steady demand at 37% of SMEs seeking bank finance, up from 30% in June ’12.
·    44% hit with increased charges, while 33% suffer increased interest rate.
·    70% of firms stating that bailed-out banks making it more difficult to access finance.
·    A massive 96% of SME respondents disbelieve bailed-out banks’ claims of 9 out of 10 loan applications successful.
·    Only 4% of SMEs believe Government is making a positive difference to SME lending.
·    Stronger Government intervention required to ensure rescued banks meet their commitments.
·    Lack of banking competition a major defect in Government strategy.

ISME, Monday 18th June 2012.

The latest ISME Quarterly Bank Watch Survey, issued today, (Monday 18th June) clearly demonstrates that while demand for bank credit is steady at 37%, the refusal rate has risen again to 54%, after slight improvements in the previous two quarters. The Association called on the Government to intervene at board and management level in both rescued banks to ensure that they are servicing the economy and lending to viable SME businesses. Read the rest of this entry »

•The challenge is to return to balanced growth.

•Call for faster Public Sector reform.

•Access to Bank Credit still an issue for SMEs.

ISME, Friday 1st June 2012.

Addressing the 550 delegates at ISME, the Irish Small & Medium Enterprises Association’s Annual Lunch, held in the Burlington Hotel, Dublin, today, (Friday 1st June), Chairman John Ryan reminded the Government that as well as the multinationals there is an important SME sector in the Economy  and suggested that they “think small first” in their strategic plans for the country. Read the rest of this entry »

•Long-term unemployed figures continue to rise.

•Social welfare trap a major jobs inhibitor.

•True unemployment figures masked by increased youth emigration.

•Reduce costs and incentivise employment to kick-start recovery.
ISME, Wednesday 30th May 2012.
ISME, the Irish Small & Medium Enterprises Association, has described the latest Live Register figures, released by the CSO today (Wednesday 30th May) as disappointing and called on the Government to ‘roll up their sleeves’ on the jobs front. The Association expected a concerted effort to tackle the stubborn unemployment situation, now that the Referendum campaign is complete.  Read the rest of this entry »

•93% of SMEs expect job losses if proposal introduced.

•‘Mad-cap’ Proposal to introduce mandatory sick pay a non runner.

•ISME calls on Burton to back down from ‘damaging’ proposal.
ISME, Monday 23rd January 2011.

A major survey of members carried out by ISME, the Irish Small & Medium Enterprises Association has confirmed that mandatory sick pay of four weeks for employers will have a disastrous impact on competitiveness, jobs and absenteeism levels. The proposal, if introduced, will represent a significant ‘own goal’ for Government and have a disastrous impact on SMEs, the vast majority of which do not have a sick pay scheme in place. Read the rest of this entry »

•Failure to publish figures an indication of public sector inefficiencies and the nonsense that is the ‘Croke Park’ Agreement.

•Simple addition beyond the competency of the Department of Social Protection.

ISME, Wednesday 11th January 2012.

ISME, the Irish Small & Medium Enterprises Association, has demanded that the Government publish an up to date list of monthly redundancy figures, which they have failed to do since August 2011. The Association is furious that it is over four months since the Department of Social Protection took responsibility for compiling these important figures from the Department of Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation and still none have been published. Read the rest of this entry »

•ISME livid as Redundancy Rebate Changes to increase redundancy costs by 112.5%.

•Decision to maintain Croke Park Agreement a ‘massive’ error.

•Lack of radical action to address public sector pay and pensions a ‘lost opportunity’.

ISME, Monday 5th December 2012

ISME, the Irish Small & Medium Enterprises Association, was livid at the decision to reduce the employers’ redundancy rebate from 60% to 15%, in effect increasing the costs of redundancy for employers by 112.5%. This cost will impact on those companies that are already in the greatest difficulty and will have the biggest impact on smaller companies as they are more labour intensive. Read the rest of this entry »

•ISME calls on the Government to use the upcoming budget to stimulate jobs growth instead of penalising enterprise and jobs through increased VAT, motor tax, excise duties and sick pay schemes.
ISME, Wednesday 30th November 2011.
ISME, the Irish Small & Medium Enterprises Association, in response to the latest live register figures, published today (Wednesday 30th November), has called on the Government to take the unemployment crisis seriously and to use the upcoming Budget to stimulate jobs growth. The Association outlined that the recently announced jobs plan, used the long fingered approach rather than immediate action to address jobs. Read the rest of this entry »

•Proposal to increase VAT and change retail planning guidelines needs to be urgently reconsidered.

•Threats from large multiples and cross border shopping having devastating impact on smaller retailers.

•Retail sector doomed if harsh budget further impacts on consumer confidence.

ISME, Monday 28th November 2011.

ISME, the Irish Small & Medium Enterprises Association, reacting to the latest Retail Sales figures issued by the CSO today (Monday 28th November), has reiterated its call for the Government to immediately introduce the Retail Strategy Group, to ensure that the concerns of the sector are addressed. The Association has outlined that the failure to address the concerns of the sector has had a calamitous impact, with hundreds of company closures and thousands of job losses. Read the rest of this entry »

How many times have I heard, “it’s by far the best business conference around?”

Well I can honestly say that the ISME annual conference fits that description, year in, year out, with its fantastic speakers, lively debate and audience participation second to none.

This year Matt Cooper will chair, with contributions from many excellent speakers, including John Perry, T.D., Minister for Small Business, who will outline the new Government’s plans for the small business sector. Minister Perry is the first Irish Small Business Minister and after years of lobbying by ISME, it is great to have him on board. We look forward to working with him to bring the SME sector to the centre of Government economic policy. Read the rest of this entry »