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THE SMALL FIRMS Association has released its end of year statement, and its chairman Ian Martin has said that businesses are now looking to exploit opportunities left by this crisis and are “confident” about the year ahead.
He said that despite the fourth year in a row of difficult market trading conditions, small businesses continue to demonstrate that “through hard work, innovation, optimism and entrepreneurial talent”, the challenges their businesses have faced have been dealt with head on.
He added that their mind-set “is now turning to exploiting the opportunities that this crisis is leaving in its wake”.
There are 200,000 small firms in Ireland, employing 655,000 people (half the private sector workforce), with 12,000 new businesses being set up each month.
Martin said that in the SFA’s fourth quarterly business sentiment survey, small businesses’ rating of their own business level was in constant positive territory.
This is despite the fact that the Eurozone crisis has caused a dramatic fall in their confidence level of the overall business environment.
The survey also found the following:
Martin said the SFA believes that in 2012 the Government “must really turn its attention to the enterprise sector and develop a comprehensive enterprise and jobs support strategy early in the New Year”.
He stated that it is essential that the recommendations in the first report of the Advisory Group on Small Business should be implemented immediately.
Specifically we need support in improving cashflow generally and in reducing the costs of small business, in particular labour market inflexibilities, commercial rates, energy costs and the cost burden of regulations. Measures are also needed to improve access to public procurement, thwart the hidden economy, improve competitive practices and enhance management skills.
He concluded: “At a time when we should be encouraging more people to take risks and create employment for themselves, through setting up a business or becoming self-employed, it is vital that they have the same welfare safety net as employees.”
He said that business owners who are willing to pay a voluntary additional PRSI payment, should be allowed do so, in order that they may qualify for all Social Welfare benefits as their employees do.
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How about extending Breast and Bowel Screening Tests to over 70′s? That would be a real benefit and an end to age discrimination in those areas.
That’s nothing new. Most old age pensioners bring the partner any, I don’t feel anyone would stop
them, give it a rest, Bord failte talk
@Phillip Smyth: yes, but this measure extends it from spouse, to friend or loved one
@Phillip Smyth: I was stopped at Carlow Railway station from bringing my sister as a companion and she is even older than me.
@Kevin Kerr: this happening anyhow has been years it’s an epidemic lol.
@Geraldine Mahon: I would have kicked up a major fuss, Shame on them.
Address the huge cost of attending hospital appointments, and having to use and pay for the car parks.
The HSE have contracted the car park facilities out so that they don’t have to deal directly with the clients.
have your say