SFA Logo

Small Firms Association

Site Search:

Press Centre

You are here: Home » Press Centre » Press Releases - 2010

Press Releases - 2010

An Taoiseach Launches the SFA Awards 2011
01/09/2010 - · An Taoiseach Launches “SFA National Small Business Awards 2011” · Small Business Heroes given national recognition “Small businesses are both different and important they are different because they are managed by people who take risks and important because they create jobs. The SFA National Small Business Awards recognises the vital contribution of the small business sector.” Avine ... read more »

SFA Comment on Live Register Figures
01/09/2010 - · Live Register figures are dismal · Jobs at risk in small firms on a daily basis “The situation is getting uncontrollable, where is the Government’s plan to deal with the ever increasing job losses?”, Avine McNally, Acting Director, Small Firms Association. The Acting Director of the Small Firms Association, Avine McNally stated that “the live register figures announced today are dismal. ... read more »

SFA Reaction to Proposed Commerical Van Tax
24/08/2010 - · SFA Slams Road Tax Proposal · Another nail in the small business coffin The Acting Director of the Small Firms Association, Avine McNally, has said that the proposal by Minister John Gormley to order local authorities to force commercial drivers and small vans to legally declare that they will not use them for domestic or pleasure purposes is ‘another nail in the coffin for small business’, ... read more »

SFA Reaction to July 2010 Inflation Figures
12/08/2010 - - SFA - July Inflation figures - Impact of administered prices is a critical issue for business The Director of the Small Firms Association, Avine McNally, has stated “the July inflation figures show that Ireland is not experiencing a broadly based price deflation as the key fall in costs are occurring in a narrow range of goods, and while these falls are positive for consumers they are not ... read more »

SFA Comment on July Redundancy Figures
05/08/2010 - · 1, 303 jobs a week lost in 2010 · Latest redundancy figure disappointing · Action to date not enough to stem the tide The Acting Director of the Small Firms Association, Avine McNally stated that “the redundancy figures announced today are yet again disappointing, but not surprising. While we have seen some job announcements in recent weeks, the July redundancy figures clearly show action to ... read more »

Autumn Economic Statement 2010
03/08/2010 - In its Autumn Economic Statement, the SFA says: · 3C’s are critical Government deliverables– confidence, cashflow & competitiveness · Restoring competitiveness & creating jobs must remain central focus In its Autumn Economic Statement, the Acting Director of the Small Firms Association, Avine McNally, has said that whilst the Irish economic future is still very challenging, sensible policy ... read more »

Irish Have Entrepreneurial Attitude
27/07/2010 - · EU Survey - Irish have the right attitude to entrepreneurship · 49% of Irish population would like to be their “own boss” · 23% of respondents are taking steps to start a new business “Small businesses are both different and important. They are important because they create jobs. They are different because they are managed by people who take risks with their own money.” Avine McNally, ... read more »

SFA Comment on Credit Review Report
13/07/2010 - · Credit Review Office Report Balanced · Findings must be actioned to give even greater access to credit for small firms The Acting Director of the Small Firms Association, Avine McNally has welcomed the Quarterly Report from the Credit Review Office. “The report from the Credit Review Office provides a very balanced view of the banks lending decisions based on the six reviews completed to ... read more »

SFA Jobs Sentiment Survey - Q2 2010
12/07/2010 - - 60% of employee numbers have remained the same in the last 3 months - 3 out of 5 companies expect employee numbers to remain the same in 2011 - 50% of Small Businesses will freeze recruitment in the next 3 months - 14% of Small Businesses will implement short time working in the next 3 months - 37% will train and upskill staff in the next 3 months “While the survey shows that the pace of ... read more »

SFA Reaction to June 2010 Inflation Figures
08/07/2010 - · SFA – June Inflation figures · We are not experiencing a broad based price deflation The Director of the Small Firms Association, Avine McNally, has stated “while the June inflation figure (-0.9%) is lower than June 2009, Ireland is not experiencing a broadly based price deflation as the key fall in costs are occurring in a narrow range of goods, i.e. clothing, food and beverages, and while ... read more »

June Redundancy Figures Reveals Job Crisis not Improving
02/07/2010 - Statement on June Redundancy Figures · 1, 302 jobs a week lost in 2010 · Latest redundancy figure disappointing “What we need now is decisive action by Government to help small businesses regain cost-competitiveness: to generate confidence in the economy and create the enterprise environment where job losses can be stabilised and created.” Avine McNally , SFA Director. The Director of the ... read more »

SFA Comment on Live Register Figures June 2010
30/06/2010 - · Live Register figures are worrying · 193 people joined live register every day in June · Immediate action required to stabilise jobs “What is particularly concerning about the live register figures is that our ability to create new jobs has been severely damaged by losses to competitiveness in recent years!”, Avine McNally, Acting Director, Small Firms Association. The Acting Director of the ... read more »

SFA Business Summer Sentiment Survey
14/06/2010 - SFA SUMMER BUSINESS SENTIMENT SURVEY REVEALS - Small business sentiment remains unchanged as many remain under serious pressure - 59% rate the overall business environment currently as ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’ - Services & Manufacturing Sectors are more positive than Distribution - 26% of firms rate their own business as “good” or “very good” - Firms display more positive outlook ... read more »

SFA Reaction to May 2010 Inflation Figures
10/06/2010 - · SFA – reaction to May Inflation figures · Business input costs increased in May The Acting Director of the Small Firms Association, Avine McNally, has stated while the May inflation figure (-1.1%) is the smallest annual drop since February 2009, this will be of little comfort for many small firms. “Many daily business input costs were among the monthly price increases during May these ... read more »

SFA Crime Survey
07/06/2010 - SFA 7th National Business Crime Survey reveals: · 45% of businesses were victims of crime in the past two years · 66% of firms have been victims of crime on two or more occasions · Average cost per incident €2,920 · Capital expenditure on crime protection for small firms is €2.04 billion · Maintenance costs of security equipment are €270 million per annum · 17% experience crime while ... read more »

SFA Statement on Live Register Figures May 2010
02/06/2010 - · Live Register figures remain a major concern · Action required! “What is particularly concerning about the live register figures is that our ability to create new jobs has been severely damaged by losses to competitiveness in recent years!” Avine McNally, Acting Director, Small Firms Association. The Acting Director of the Small Firms Association, Avine McNally stated that “the live ... read more »

SFA Reaction to AIB Announcement
26/05/2010 - · SFA welcomes AIB SME Recovery Scheme · Working Capital key to survival for many small firms The Acting Director of the Small Firms Association, Avine McNally, warmly welcomed the SME Recovery Scheme announced today by AIB. “It is good news that the financial institutions are taking further action to address the real problems which their small business customers are facing. Many viable ... read more »

SFA Public Procurement Survey
21/05/2010 - · 53% of small firms rate the process of selling to public sector as “poor” or “very poor” · Small firms losing millions due to bureaucratic procedures · SFA expresses concerns over small firms access to public sector contracts The Small Firms Association (SFA) has released findings of a survey which highlights the problems faced by small firms in relation to public procurement. The survey ... read more »

SFA Reaction to April 2010 Inflation Figures
13/05/2010 - · SFA – Inflation remains key to regaining cost competitiveness · SFA Calls on government to reduce costs on its own services The Acting Director of the Small Firms Association, Avine McNally, has stated that the - 2.1% April inflation figure announced today will be of little comfort for many small firms. “Many daily business input costs were among the monthly price increases during April ... read more »

April Redundancy Figures - SFA Comment
11/05/2010 - · 5,749 redundancies in April · 1,474 jobs lost per week · Urgent need to seriously tackle small business competitive issues and thus the jobs crisis “1,474 jobs have been lost each week in 2010, what is particularly concerning about these job losses is that our ability to create new jobs has been severely damaged by losses to competitiveness in recent years.”Avine McNally, SFA Acting ... read more »

SFA Statement on Live Register Figures April
07/05/2010 - · Despite fall - Live Register figures still major concern · Action still required! “What is particularly concerning about the live register figures is that our ability to create new jobs has been severely damaged by losses to competitiveness in recent years!” , Avine McNally, Acting Director, Small Firms Association. The Acting Director of the Small Firms Association, Avine McNally stated ... read more »

JOC Meeting on Regulatory Burden on Small Firms
05/05/2010 - · Small Businesses tells Oireachtas Committee that Government Legislators need to “Think Small First” · 48% of small firms cite “red tape hell” as a major business problem · Remove or exempt small businesses from regulation “Small business believes that there needs to be a greater recognition in our political culture of the costs of regulation, and their overall impact on competitiveness. ... read more »

SFA Calls for Social Welfare Amnesty
04/05/2010 - · SFA calls for Social Welfare Amnesty · Social welfare fraud costs are estimated to be €660 million per annum “The aim of the Social Welfare system is to support those who need it most in society, not assist those who abuse the system and drawdown from limited financial resources, when these resources could be received by those most in need.” Avine McNally, Acting Director, Small Firms ... read more »

SFA delegation meets Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation
28/04/2010 - Small Businesses meet with Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Innovation 3C’s are critical Ministerial deliverables– confidence, cashflow & competitiveness Supportive environment for small business sector vital The SFA Chairman, Dr Aidan O’Boyle, at a meeting with the Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Innovation, Batt O’Keeffe, T.D., today outlined to the Minister the three critical ... read more »

SFA calls for immediate electricity price deregulation in the business market
21/04/2010 - · SFA welcomes CER announcement on electricity price deregulation · But calls for price regulation in business markets to be removed immediately! · Cost of Energy key factor in regaining cost-competitiveness “Full price deregulation in business markets should be implemented immediately, in order to allow small firms who are desperately trying to reduce their cost base in order to survive, to ... read more »

Mazars III Report on "Lending to SMEs" - SFA Comment
19/04/2010 - Mazars III Review of Lending to SMEs reveals: - 1 in 5 SMEs are not getting enough credit - €3bn commitment to additional lending by both BOI and AIB must be delivered on - Role of Credit Review Office critical - Risk-adverse criteria of banks means direct government intervention necessary Commenting on the findings of the third independent “Review of Lending to SMEs” (October to December ... read more »

SFA Spring Business Sentiment Survey
19/04/2010 - - Marked improvement in small business sentiment but many remain under serious pressure - 58% rate the overall business environment currently as ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’ - Services & Manufacturing Sectors are more positive than Distribution - 28% of small firms more confident about their own business than 3 months ago - Business Activity indicators at highest levels since survey began - ... read more »

EU Commission Press Release: New €35 million fund opens for SMEs with green ideas
14/04/2010 - The EU Commission has today launched a new €35 million call for proposals from small businesses with green products or services. This comes from the 2010 Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (CIP) Eco-innovation fund, which aims to support projects in the area of recycling, sustainable building products, the food and drink sector and green business practices. Janez Potočnik, European ... read more »

[Replication or Save Conflict]

SFA Jobs Sentiment Survey - Q1 2010
07/04/2010 - - 55% of Small Businesses have maintained their employee numbers in the last 3 months - 29% experienced a decrease in employee numbers in the last 3 months - 24% expect employee numbers to decrease in the next 3 months - 47% expect to freeze recruitment in next 3 months - 22% will reduce spend on training “While the survey shows that the pace of job losses within the small firms sector ... read more »

Small Business welcomes Credit Review Office opening
01/04/2010 - - SFA welcomes opening of Credit Review Office - Formal appeals process should assist small businesses access credit - 1 in 4 SMEs are not getting enough credit The Director of the Small Firms Association, Patricia Callan, has welcomed the opening today of the Credit Review Office, which will allow small businesses to appeal refusals for bank finance from the NAMA covered financial ... read more »

Small Firms Association Comment on NAMA
30/03/2010 - - SFA welcomes NAMA as a stabilizer to the Irish Banking System - But NAMA will not deliver additional credit to small businesses - 1 in 4 SMEs are not getting enough credit - Risk-adverse criteria of banks means direct government intervention in small business lending is essential Commenting on the transfer of the first loans to NAMA today, the Director of the Small Firms Association, ... read more »

SFA Annual Pay Survey Results
19/03/2010 - SFA Annual Pay Survey reveals: - 11% of employee grades earn up to €25,000 - 38% earn between €25,000-€35,000 - 36% earn between €35,000-€45,000 - 15% earn more than €45,000 Non –pay benefits: - 67% of small businesses have sick pay schemes - 60% of small businesses have pension schemes - 43% of small businesses have health insurance schemes - 78% of employers contribute to ... read more »

SFA comment on Management Development Report Launch by An Tanaiste
16/03/2010 - - SFA says increased funding is required for management training - Training can reduce risk of small business failure by 50% - Management Training imperative to small business survival rates Commenting on the launch today, by An Tánaiste, of the Management Development Council Report, SFA Director, Patricia Callan stated: “It is time for the Minister to really demonstrate her belief in the ... read more »

SFA reaction to Tanaiste's PR on earlier payments from the public sector
05/03/2010 - · SFA welcomes earlier payments by central Government Departments · But calls on 15-day payment period to be extended to state agencies and local authorities · HSE flouting Government guidelines with contractual payment period of 45 days · SFA calls for establishment of Small Claims Court for Business “Public Procurement contracts are estimated to be worth €15bn annually, yet in the figures ... read more »

SFA National Small Business Award Winners 2010
04/03/2010 - · Glenisk wins the Overall SFA National Small Business Award 2010 · Small Businesses demonstrate how achievement, innovation and excellence can lead Ireland out of recession · An Taoiseach presents SFA National Small Business Awards 2010 Glenisk has won the Overall SFA National Small Business Award 2010. The presentation of the award was made by An Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, TD, the patron on the ... read more »

SFA Opposes Mandatory Pension Provision
04/03/2010 - · SFA slams Government plans for mandatory pensions · Costs will far outweigh benefits “The decision by the Government to introduce mandatory pension provision is premature and will prove costly to the Exchequer, to business, and to employees, without any associated benefits in the long-term”. Patricia Callan, Director, Small Firms Association. The Director of the Small Firms Association, ... read more »

SFA Comment on Live Register Figures
03/03/2010 - · Live Register figures remain out of control · Immediate Action is critical “The jobs crisis remains very real and the government must take action. By focusing on the factors that are within our control, we can retain and create jobs. It is vitally important that we don’t allow a whole new generation to be lost to long-term unemployment or emigration.” Avine McNally, Assistant Director, ... read more »

SFA Comment on Lending to Small Businesses
26/02/2010 - · NAMA will not deliver additional credit to small businesses · Central Bank data shows further sharp fall in lending to business of 4.3% in January · 1 in 4 SMEs are not getting enough credit · Risk-adverse criteria of banks means direct government intervention in small business lending is essential Commenting on the EU Commission’s approval of NAMA today, the Director of the Small Firms ... read more »

SFA Late Payment Survey
15/02/2010 - · Late Payments strangling small firms · Average payment in Ireland takes 75 days! · HSE flouting Government guidelines with contractual payment period of 45 days · SFA calls for establishment of Small Claims Court for Business “It is appalling that the HSE, in its terms and conditions, has set out a payment period of 45 days, in direct contravention to commitments give by An Taoiseach and An ... read more »

SFA Statement on Live Register Figures
03/02/2010 - · Live Register figures spiralling out of control · Time to wake up and act! “The jobs crisis is very real and the government must take action. By focusing on the factors that are within our control, we can retain and create jobs. It is vitally important that we don’t allow a whole new generation to be lost to long-term unemployment or emigration.” Avine McNally, Assistant Director, Small ... read more »

SFA Comment on January Redundancy Figures
02/02/2010 - · 6,699 redundancies in January · 1.7% increase on January 2009 figures · Urgent need to seriously tackle small business competitive issues and thus the jobs crisis · SFA calls on Tánaiste to implement real enterprise & jobs strategy “Whilst small Irish businesses have taken a series of actions to regain cost-competitiveness within their own businesses, including negotiating real pay decreases ... read more »

SFA response to findings of Euro Area Bank Lending Survey
29/01/2010 - SFA response to finding of Euro Area Bank Lending Survey The Small Firms Association (SFA) today said that the latest Euro Area Bank Lending Survey is further evidence that many companies are finding it difficult to access credit and called for the government to put in place a loan guarantee scheme to address the problem. Commenting on the latest Euro Area Bank Lending Survey, Patricia Callan, ... read more »

Better Business Show PR
26/01/2010 - · An Tánaiste officially launches the Better Business Show 2010 · SFA brings Ireland’s top companies together to assist small firms in maintaining & growing their businesses · The Better Business Show travels to 16 locations throughout Ireland from 26th January to 3rd March 2010 An Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment, Mary Coughlan, T.D., today, Tuesday, 26th January, ... read more »

SFA Comment on 2009 Inflation Figures
14/01/2010 - · SFA says 4.5% deflation in 2009 is evidence of businesses attempting to regain cost-competitiveness · Figures clearly show pressures facing the retail sector · SFA calls on government to significantly reduce prices on its own services The Director of the Small Firms Association, Patricia Callan, has stated that the 4.5% annual average rate of deflation in 2009, is clear evidence of the ... read more »

SFA Comment on Weather Conditions
11/01/2010 - · Weather conditions continue to affect all sectors · Costs will run into millions “While employees are making great efforts in attending for work, there is still time lost and the overall cost in terms of days lost is difficult to access, but the SFA estimate that if half the private workforce, lost just 30 minutes today the result is 49,825 days lost.” Avine McNally, Assistant Director, ... read more »

In this section:

Main site index:

© SFA Confederation House, 84/86 Lower Baggot Street, Dublin 2 Accessibility | Terms and conditions | Site map