• One in four SMEs aware of impact of SEPA.
• Banks must do more to inform business.
• Common standards, faster settlement and simplified processing will improve cash flow. 

ISME, Thursday 2^nd May 2013.

ISME, the Irish Small & Medium Enterprises Association, published its survey on SME’s preparedness for SEPA (Single European Payments Area). The results show the need for a better communication from banks and Government to businesses, where just one in four SMEs are aware of the potential impact of SEPA on their business, while 64% have not received any information on the issue. Read the rest of this entry »

• Rampant ‘nixer culture’ undercutting legitimate business.
• Dramatic increase in black economy costing State €5 billion.
• Jobs being lost due to illegal trading.
• ‘Rogue traders’ must be hit with tougher sanctions.
• 12 point plan to tackle Black Economy.

ISME, Tuesday 16^th April 2013.

At its meeting with the Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation, ISME, the Irish Small & Medium Enterprises Association, has called on the Government to introduce a tax and social welfare amnesty for individuals to allow them to legitimise their ‘hidden economy’ tax/earnings status. The Association also called for subsequent zero tolerance, tougher sanctions and harsher penalties for those who avoid taxes on goods and services. At a time when black economy is costing in excess of €5 billion, the initiative will facilitate those who have the potential for maintaining a legitimate business and would remove unfair “competition‟ and level the playing field for the compliant SME business trading legitimately. Read the rest of this entry »

• ISME calls for parallel ‘Action Plan for Costs’.
• Continued rising business costs masked in inflation figures.
• Structural and policy changes required to protect hard-won competitiveness.

ISME, Thursday 11^th April 2013. 

ISME, the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association, has called on the Government to drive a campaign to reduce the underlying costs in the economy, rather than depend on the normal reductions due to reduced demand and spare capacity. Today’s reduced inflation figures at 0.5% are purely as a result of the cyclical response to the Irish and international recession rather than structural or policy induced changes. The Association warned that without Government policy initiatives in this area, prices will escalate and competitiveness will be eroded when the economy returns to growth pattern. 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 »

•One-third of SMEs have been the victim of crime in the last 12 months.

•75% of effected enterprises experienced more than one instance of crime.

•70% of business owners believe that crime levels are getting worse.

•A paltry 3% feel that the judicial system is effective.

•Tougher court sentencing and increased Garda presence demanded.

•Separate recording of business crime urgently needed.

ISME, Friday, May 25th, 2012.

The NATIONAL CRIME SURVEY (sponsored by Top Security Ltd.) issued today (May 25th 2012), by ISME, the Irish Small & Medium Enterprises Association, confirms that the annual cost of crime is now €1.5bn. The survey reveals that while the number of enterprises affected by crime has reduced slightly, the number of incidents and the costs of crime against business have increased in the last 12 months. The Association called on the Government to prioritise business crime, an area that has not, to date, received the attention it warrants. Read the rest of this entry »

• Root and branch review of all State imposed business costs required.
• Embedded ‘State induced’ inflation masked by effects of reduced consumer demand.

ISME, Thursday 15th March 2012.

Responding to the latest inflation figures, showing an annual change of 2.1% to the end of February, ISME, the Irish Small & Medium Enterprises, has warned that competitiveness is being threatened by Government sponsored cost increases and called for a targeted campaign to address this issue or suffer the consequences of more business closures and job losses. Read the rest of this entry »

•Proposal another ‘kick in the teeth’ to small business.

•Government death wish for SMEs.

•‘Sort out public sector absenteeism before penalising the private sector’.

ISME, Tuesday 15th November 2011.

ISME, the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association, has lambasted the Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton, on her ‘daft’ proposal to transfer responsibility for paying sick pay in the first month of illness from the Department of Social Protection to individual employers. The Association outlined that the proposal, if implemented, would cause untold damage to businesses already struggling to survive. Read the rest of this entry »

ISME, Thursday 16^th June 2011.

ISME Chairman, John Ryan and Chief Executive, Mark Fielding, have been appointed to the recently formed Small Business Advisory Group. The broad terms of reference for the Small Business Advisory Group are to facilitate structured and regular dialogue between the Minister for Small Business and representatives of the small business sector on issues of concern to the sector and how to promote the economic development and job potential of the sector.

Welcoming their appointments, ISME Chairman, John Ryan, outlined, “The setting up of this grouping is an important first step in promoting the concerns of small businesses and providing ISME with the opportunity to voice these concerns to the highest level of Government.  Read the rest of this entry »

•    Call by junior Minister Hayes premature, divisive and churlish.

Mark Fielding

•    Government ‘Blind Eye’ approach to business costs evident in call.

•    Half a billion savings in Local Government Review still ignored.

In answer to the Minister of State’s demand for price cuts, we in ISME are calling for immediate reduction of 10% in all Public Services costs to business.

The Association called on the Government to implement the massive savings indicated in the Review of Local Government Report before attempting to approach the SME providers to the State for reductions, which will push small enterprises over the edge. Read the rest of this entry »

REDUCTION IN APPLICATIONS BUT INCREASE IN SUCCESS RATE FOR COMPANIES REQUESTING NEW BANK FACILITIES

• 67% of companies successfully accessing Bank credit, an improvement on previous quarters.

• Fear factor interfering with normal banking relationships.

• Concern at deterioration in banking competition.

• Cost of SME finance rising.

• SME micro finance opportunities being ignored by Irish banks.

• ISME calls for Government to create Third Force Business bank.

We released the ISME Quarterly Bank Watch Survey on 13th December, which confirms that there has been a reduction in the number of enterprises requesting new facilities from their banks in the last quarter. While the numbers are down, there has been an improvement the success rate in accessing credit from the banks. Read the rest of this entry »