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Updated at 11.50pm
DESPITE AMBITIONS TO be a leading startup nation, it appears Irish people are more wedded to the culture of working for a pay cheque.
A report on entrepreneurship in Ireland has shown Ireland lagging behind the majority of EU countries when it comes to most key indicators of startup activity.
And not surprisingly, it also showed that the recession put a major dent in the opportunities people saw in launching their own startups.
Ireland ranked 16th in Europe based on the share of people who had either started businesses or were classified as ”nascent entrepreneurs” – those in the process of launching an enterprise.
The position dropped from 9th place last year, when there was a sudden spike in the number of startups in operation, and well behind that of other bailout recipients like Portugal and Greece.
About 6.5% of the adult population were classed as “early-stage entrepreneurs”, below the European average of 7.7% and less than half the share in the US, Canada or Australia.
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A recessionary hit
The report said people’s perceptions about the opportunities for launching their own businesses took a nosedive during the recession, although the rate had slowly been recovering.
Less than half the population said they viewed entrepreneurship as a good career choice, also below the European average, despite Ireland having one of the largest proportions who viewed success in the field as having high status.
But Irish workers did rate much higher than their European peers when it came to “intrapreneurship” – those within companies who triggered new business activity for their employers.
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In October, Jobs Minister Richard Bruton said he wanted 25% more startups formed each year and a 25% higher survival rate among new businesses.
Capital-gains tax and income tax changes were flagged at the time, although any introduction of the measures was kicked down the road to Budget time. In May it launched a rebranded and improved seed-capital scheme.
Despite sustained lobbying from the business sector, the government is also yet to bring taxes for the self-employed in line with those of PAYE workers.
Launching the report, Bruton said the figures showed Ireland was at or slightly below-average in the EU on most key measures of startup activity.
“As I have said many times before, we have great entrepreneurs in Ireland – we just don’t have enough of them,” he said.
Clearly we must do more, and I am determined to ensure that in Budget 2016 and into the future we will continue making changes to encourage more people to start their own business and create the jobs we need”.
Irish Tax Institute president Mary Honohan today said the country’s tax policies weren’t attractive enough for those “who take real risks by putting money into startups”.
She also cited a combination of the country’s “immensely restrictive” capital gains tax laws – especially compared to those in the UK – and “penal regime” for offering share options to new workers.
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Obviously it depends on who’s playing.
@Conway Whitty: Richie Kavanagh & his yellow JCB.
@Conway Whitty: Coldplay would have to pay me to attend.
@damien leen: fup fup fup, fup off.
@Conway Whitty: Precisely, the last time I went to see a “pop star” was at the O2 Arena, it was Prince, I will never forget it, before that, it was Showaddywaddy, it was in Dunstable before Dunstable turned into Mogadishu, the tickets were about £1,75.
@Stanley Marsh: the missus just paid €620 for 2 tickets…I’m gonna have to give an Oscar worthy performance pretending I care & I’m delighted we’re goin…Ah well, need must.
@damien leen: the likes of him, Morrison and that Big Tom eegit could be seen at one point as like an Irish triangle of conservatives. If i liked blues or country, no way I would pay to listen to their $hite
I know family down the country who would, might as well hand your money in a direct donation to Fianna fail. (apart from Van the unionist)
@Harry: Parnell street yesterday looked at one point like Mogadishu, etc. Also these Asian/Chino restaurants spill constant litter out onto our streets
Anything more than 150 for a good spot is taking the mick being honest..
@Butters: I flat out refused Springsteen tickets cos they cost 130. FFS got offered a coldplay ticket and figured why not.
IIRC Iron Maiden this year was about 100 a ticket? Saw them in around 08 09 or so and they cost 50.
Ticketmaster needs to be broken up. It has a complete monopoly on venues and ticket sales.
I have decided to stick to upcoming local gigs, the amount being asked is madness and is pure greed, they are treating punters as atms and bleeding the cash cow.. All the while it’s pet names for fan bases to guilt them into spending.. It’s manlipitive and wrong to have 12yrs crying how poor they are while next door goes, wrong wrong wrong.
Crazy crazy prices right now. Had a look the other day and it was €170 for a regular standing ticket for Depeche Mode next year! These kind of prices are especially hard to take in the current climate and also when you started going to gigs many decades ago. My first major gig going decade was the 90s. It seems comical the prices we used to pay to see so many bands and acts in places like the SFX. I know things change, acts get bigger and costs have gone up but the prices are just so out of whack. If you live outside of Dublin, need a hotel then add in food and drink plus ticket you could be looking at 500 quid to see Depeche Mode. Just using them as an example. Same with so many others.
@SerotoninWars: I nearly passed out at the price of those tickets. I am lucky enough to live close by the venue. But I draw the line at €170 to stand in the Point Depot.
@geraldine lawlor:
I hear you. It’s not not often I’m shocked these days but I took a double, make that a treble take when I saw them. I thought I had accidentally hit on on a VIP package section or something along those lines. But no €170 for a no frills standing ticket. Absolutely bonkers.
Hoping for Coldplay tickets in Budapest. Currently will be about a 1/3 of the price of going to Dublin. That’s for accommodation, flights and tickets. Rome also a good option.
It’s not the cost of the ticket that annoys me, it’s the charges that are added to it that really get to me!
@Fiona Wyse: ticketmaster closed its physical outlets partly because these are more expensive online. greed. also, now theyre cashless by default
Note to The Journal.
There are colours other than blue available for pie charts..just for he sake of clarity.
@Stanley Marsh: *the sake of clarity..ironic.
Queueing (online or in person) is a cost. Ticketing outlets (you know who you are) don’t care about you. You’re just a commodity, the artist is their real customer.
The sheep will pay any amount to see the latest MK ultra act thats current.
All these celebrities were bred by celebrities according to elite doctrines – Robert redford is brad pitts real father
@Chief Of police Retired – Truther MAGA Trump 2024: You’re funny…
@Chief Of police Retired – Truther MAGA Trump 2024:
Taylor Swift was made in a CIA lab. That’s just a fact. The Eras Tour is clearly a brazen attempt to infiltrate and brainwash the Swifties. This new ‘Era’ is an NWO WEF Marxist backed usurping of the populace and deepening of the swamp. These innocent Swifties will then pass on the Eras code/virus to their family and friends when they return. It’s all so obvious.
@Stanley Marsh: No he’s not, he’s pathetic.
@Stanley Marsh: He’s really not.
It’s time to boycott the next few artists and send a message to them and their promoter’s that we are fed up being ripped off.
Support local musicians.
Better off going to festival somewhere else in Europe.At Hellfest in France a few weeks back.350 euro for 4 nights of bands starting at 1030 each day.
Water taps,toilets,bars,good food everywhere.It’s the way to go for the true music fan.
A friend of mine wanted to treat me to front row seats at an Iggy Pop gig in Spain.
€450 a seat. What?
That really is taking the proverbial.
He is long past his prime and has not had a really good album in years.
Free.
I’d pay up to 200 to see Faith No More and cross em off the list.
I saw Roger Waters a few years back in Three Arena and ticket was €99 or something. Well worth it.
@Big Tuna: still a bit steep. id pay 75.
€99 max
Who’s playing?
The gov keep introducing new regulations that keep driving up the cost of doing business in Ireland. This is an example of the many things we get as a result..
€0.01 and that is too much.
Most I’ve paid was €120. It was about 14 years ago so that was astronomical at the time. But it was Tina Turner in the 3 Arena and worth every single cent as she didnt tour again after that and Im so glad i got to see her.
While it completely depends on whos playing, i just recently paid half the price of what the minimum price of these Taylor swift tickets were to go and see New Order. (a mate of mine did APPLY to see Swift but he got absolutely nowhere) anyway it isnt so much about that theres a big showcase to shows like the Swift ones, its greed and elitism driving those prices. How on earth did Kendrick lamar sell out when standing tickets in the 3arena were a hundred euro? Is he really that big in Ireland of Aslan and Damo Dempsey?
If someone else is paying I don’t care lol
have your say