Fennell Communications Releases

Government focused on delivering practical programme of actions to improve operating environment for small businesses – Perry

- SFA Better Business Show - acknowledgement of crucial role played by small business in creating and sustaining wealth and jobs in the Irish economy

- Development of Charter for Prompt Payments between Businesses – opportunity for all businesses to play their role in supporting each other

- Action Plan for Jobs First Quarterly Report on the implementation of recommendations will be published in the next week

Speaking at the Small Firms Association Better Business Show in Mullingar, Minister for Small Business, John Perry T.D. said “Small businesses are a central part of the economy and their ability to succeed and grow underpins our future potential for jobs, growth and prosperity.  

“Since 2004 the Better Business Show has been providing a free 'boot camp' for businesses providing free of charge, world class information, advice and assistance to Ireland’s small businesses across a range of key cost issues which impact on small business.

 “This Government is acutely aware of the importance of the SME sector and its potential for generating employment. The challenge has been, and continues to be, where to best target our efforts and financial supports and interventions to optimum effect, so as to assist the sector.

“Small businesses are currently operating in a particularly difficult environment, so it is important that we continue to focus on delivering on a practical programme of actions that can achieve positive improvements in the operating environment for small businesses.

“Part of that programme is the Advisory Group for Small Business, which I Chair.  The timing of the publication of the first Report of the Group meant that a number of its recommendations were taken into consideration in the preparation of the Action Plan for Jobs, particularly in relation to assisting the small business sector to cope with the current economic crisis and to prepare businesses for future growth and job creation.

“The Action Plan is a whole of Government approach which will be delivered through the publication of Quarterly Reports - with the first Report being published in the next week - by the Department of the Taoiseach, who are coordinating the Action Plan’s implementation across the whole of Government.

“It is important that the Government takes what steps it can to improve the business environment.  However, I believe there are also steps which businesses and their representative organisations can take themselves.  Some of these are identified in the Action Plan for Jobs, such as developing a Charter for Prompt Payments between Businesses.  The introduction of such a Charter follows on from work already done to improve payments from Government Departments and State Agencies to their suppliers.

“The SFA’s Better Business Shows provide a welcome opportunity to acknowledge the crucial role played by small business in creating and sustaining wealth and jobs in the Irish economy.”

ENDS