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Press Releases - 2009

End of Year Jobs Release
31/12/2009 - · 2009 - job losses spiralled out of control · 2010 – need for clear jobs strategy · Economy lost on average 1480 jobs every week · Services Industry hardest hit with 26,952 redundancies “It is clear that there is no employment strategy – what the Government has to realise is that the jobs crisis is very real and they must take immediate action! It is vitally important that we don’t allow a ... read more »

SFA Press Release: Small Firms Key to Recovery in 2010
30/12/2009 - · Enterprise Support Strategy; Access to Finance; Export led growth are imperatives for small businesses in 2010 · Empowering people “to do it for themselves” essential in poor job market · Hope for the future through small business! In an end of year statement, Dr Aidan O’Boyle, Chairman of the Small Firms Association, has said that “it is heartening that the SFA’s small business quarterly ... read more »

Mazars Independent Review of Business Lending - SFA Comment
22/12/2009 - Mazars II Review of Lending to SMEs reveals: - 1 in 4 SMEs are not getting enough credit - Decline rate variation by bank and credit pricing indicates shrinking of competition in the SME banking marketplace - Risk-adverse criteria of banks means direct government intervention necessary Commenting on the findings of the second independent “Review of Lending to SMEs”, conducted by Mazars ... read more »

SFA Reaction to the Budget 2010
09/12/2009 - · SFA Reaction to Budget 2010 · Where is the stimulus Minister? The Chairman of the Small Firms Association, Dr Aidan O’Boyle has said that today’s budget has failed to provide sufficient stimulus for the small business sector to maintain and create employment. “The Minister has missed an opportunity to put jobs and enterprise centre stage and provide a comprehensive package of support ... read more »

SFA National Small Business Awards 2010 - Finalists Announced
07/12/2009 - · Finalists Announced in the “SFA National Small Business Awards 2010” · A vibrant Small Business sector is core to our future economic wellbeing “The determination, acumen and resilience of our small business entrepreneurs are a source of great encouragement as we try to overcome the current economic challenges", Awards Patron, An Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, TD. The short-list of finalists in ... read more »

Christmas Spend Press Release
04/12/2009 - · Make a special effort to “Buy Irish” says SFA · Christmas spending will exceed €1.6 billion The Assistant Director of the Small Firms Association, Avine McNally has called on all sections of Irish society to make a special effort to buy Irish this Christmas, stating that the forthcoming Christmas celebrations can add a major economic impetus to the country and help maintain jobs. According ... read more »

SFA Comment on mounting Exchequer Deficit
02/12/2009 - · Strong government action required as Exchequer returns show clearly that the private sector can simply no longer afford to pay for the public sector · Law of diminishing returns means further tax increases will be fruitless The Director of the Small Firms Association, Patricia Callan has said that “urgent action is required in light of the grim Exchequer returns released this evening, which ... read more »

November Redundancy Figures - SFA Comment
01/12/2009 - · 5,903 redundancies in November · 73,024 redundancies so far in 2009 · Urgent need to seriously tackle small business competitive issues and thus the jobs crisis · SFA calls on Tánaiste to broaden criteria for €250mn Employment Subsidy Scheme “Whilst small Irish businesses have taken a series of actions to regain cost-competitiveness within their own businesses, including negotiating real ... read more »

SFA Meeting with Dept of Finance on Budget 2010 Proposals
25/11/2009 - 3C’s are critical deliverables in Budget 2010 – confidence, cashflow & competitiveness Time is now right for enterprise stimulus package Supportive environment for small business sector essential factor in exiting recession An SFA delegation will meet with senior officials in the Department of Finance on Merrion Street at 2pm today, to discuss its pre-budget proposals. The SFA Chairman, Dr ... read more »

SFA Slams Public Sector Unions Strike
24/11/2009 - Widespread disruption damaging to entire economy Government must hold the line and cut public sector pay & pensions bill by €1.3bn Small business has already more than paid its share of this recession The Director of the Small Firms Association, Patricia Callan has slammed today’s strike by the public sector unions, which she said “is completed unwarranted in the context of ongoing ... read more »

SFA Annual Lunch 2009
06/11/2009 - SFA Annual Lunch Friday, 6th November 2009 in the Burlington Hotel Dublin. Guest of Honour: His Excellency, Daniel M. Rooney, American Ambassador to Ireland. · SFA says time is right to get back to business · Competiveness, Innovation & Exports will be key to success · Public Sector must now accept fiscal realities The Chairman of the Small Firms Association, Dr Aidan O’Boyle, in his address ... read more »

October Redundancy Figures - SFA Comment
03/11/2009 - · 110% increase in redundancies to end October · Live Register indicator giving Government false sense of security · Need to move beyond “pilot schemes” and really tackle the jobs crisis “It is vitally important that we don’t allow a whole new generation to be lost to long-term unemployment or emigration; instead we should allow them to maintain their skill base and add to the ... read more »

SFA Pre-Budget 2010 Submission
02/11/2009 - · Tough Budget vital to restore confidence in the economy · Current public expenditure must be cut by €4billion · NAMA not enough - Government backed loan/equity guarantee scheme critical to saving small businesses and jobs · Government imposed business costs makes it impossible for small businesses to reduce the competitiveness deficit The SFA Chairman, Dr Aidan O’Boyle has said that “a ... read more »

SFA Swine Flu Survey
19/10/2009 - · SFA urges small firms to prepare for Swine Flu · 58% of small firms have no Business Contingency Plan in place · 67% have introduced new employee hygiene procedures · 51% of firms have cross trained staff · Absenteeism rates could cost small business €90 million! The Small Firms Association (SFA) has stated that an influenza pandemic would have a significant impact on the business environment ... read more »

SFA Late Payments
06/10/2009 - Late Payments strangling small firms Average payment in Ireland takes 66 days! 48% of firms coping with clients taking additional credit in last 3 months SFA calls for establishment of Small Claims Court for business “Late payment causes major problems for firms, imposing unnecessary administrative burdens and in some instances can lead to insolvency. 60% of businesses indicate that late ... read more »

September Redundancy Figures - SFA Comment
02/10/2009 - · 122% increase in redundancies to end September · Need to move beyond “pilot schemes” and really tackle the jobs crisis “It is vitally important that we don’t allow a whole new generation to be lost to long-term unemployment; instead we should allow them to maintain their skill base and add to the competitiveness of smaller enterprises by matching the two on mainstream work placement ... read more »

SFA Annual Conference PR
29/09/2009 - · Hope for the future through small business · SFA Chair calls for delivery of government backed loan guarantee scheme to small business – NAMA will not be enough · Strong budgetary decisions vital to restore confidence in the economy “Ireland’s hope for the future will be through the success of small business, who with optimism, perseverance and encouragement, will move “beyond the ... read more »

Small Business and Women should Vote Yes to Lisbon
25/09/2009 - · 74% of small firms believe second rejection of Treaty would have very negative impact · SFA Urges “Yes Vote” to Lisbon Treaty “A Yes Vote is critical for Irish Business and for Irish Women”, Patricia Callan, Director, Small Firms Association. The Director of the Small Firms Association, Patricia Callan, speaking at a lunchtime discussion today on the Lisbon Treaty referendum with Catherine ... read more »

SFA Autumn 2009 Business Sentiment Survey
14/09/2009 - SFA AUTUMN BUSINESS SENTIMENT SURVEY REVEALS · Small businesses more positive for second quarter in a row but many remain under serious pressure · 67% rate the overall business environment currently as ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’ · 35% of small firms less confident about their own business than 3 months ago · 44% will restructure, decrease in size or close down in the next 3 months · Only 50% ... read more »

The SFA National Small Business Awards 2010 programme launch
09/09/2009 - · An Taoiseach Launches “SFA National Small Business Awards 2010” · Small Business Heroes given national recognition “While the current adverse economic conditions both at home and abroad pose small business in Ireland with major challenges, it is an ideal time for small innovative companies to tell their peers and the world at large how well they are coping and how they plan to grow and ... read more »

Lisbon II - Small Firms Association Support
07/09/2009 - · 74% of small firms believe second rejection of Treaty would have very negative impact · 79% believe “yes vote” important for foreign direct investment · 78% believe “yes vote” important for small firms exporting to EU markets · 78% of small firms believe that membership of the EU has been important for the success of Irish Business · SFA Urges “Yes Vote” to Lisbon Treaty "Ireland must be ... read more »

SFA welcomes Commission on Taxation Report
07/09/2009 - · SFA welcomes Commission on Taxation Report · Broadening of the tax base essential for stabilisation of Irish economy · Strong endorsement of specific small business support proposals The Director of the Small Firms Association, Patricia Callan, has welcomed the publication of the Commission on Taxation Report, “which is comprehensive in nature, and should give the Government a road-map for ... read more »

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