The Small Firms Association (SFA ), the leading voice for small businesses in Ireland, has welcomed the commitment by new Fine Gael Leader Simon Harris to prioritise small businesses. In Simon Harris’s maiden speech to the Fine Gael Ard Fheis in Galway, he made a commitment to work with Government colleagues to develop a package to support small businesses.
Small firms account for 98 per cent of the total number of businesses in Ireland, employing nearly half of the private sector workforce. These businesses are the beating heart of our communities and are the social fabric of our economy. However, many businesses are struggling with increased business costs which threaten their viability. The transition towards the Living Wage poses a significant challenge, in addition to other labour-related regulations.
“Simon Harris’s commitment to prioritise small businesses in his first address to the nation is a welcome development and the SFA looks forward to fruitful discussions with the new administration in the coming weeks to best serve the specific needs of the small business community. In recent weeks, the SFA has communicated with various Government Ministers, including Minister Harris about these concerns.
The SFA welcomes Simon Harris’s pledge to provide a support package for small businesses to assist with rising business costs. The SFA is due to publish its policy priorities for the elections in the coming weeks. The purpose of its policies is to curb business costs, ease the tax burden and provide upskilling support,” said David Broderick, Director of the Small Firms Association.
In recent years, Simon Harris, as Minister for Higher Education, has been a strong supporter of the SFA’s MentorsWork programme which provides targeted supports for small businesses across Ireland.
“Simon Harris’s support for the SFA’s MentorsWork programme is greatly appreciated by the business community and is a good indication for his commitment to the concerns and needs of the small business community,” added David Broderick.
