Government must safeguard competitiveness for small businesses

To mark the Small Firms Association Annual Lunch 2022, today, sponsored by Flender, PKF, Target Integration and MentorsWork, SFA Chair, Graham Byrne called on government to safeguard competitiveness within our small business community, as we approach a difficult winter.

In his speech SFA Chair, Graham Byrne said: “Small business owners are facing soaring energy bills, rising business costs and weak consumer sentiment, as we enter the important festive trading period for retail and hospitality. Now is the time to free up small business owners, to allow them to maintain their businesses and preserve competitiveness, not for Government to add unnecessary costs.

“Government needs to focus on securing growth by creating the conditions to thrive, not just survive the challenges that lay ahead. Enhanced business measures such as improving the tax treatment of entrepreneurs, creating a dedicated state agency for small firms, and reducing regulatory burden on owner managers need to be delivered in 2024.

“We have incredible business owners in Ireland and every one of them wants to grow their business and if we create the best environment for this to happen then we create an internationally recognised company”, concluded Byrne.