SFA calls for dynamic approach to job creation

THE Small Firms Association has called for a new dynamic approach to creating jobs and on the Government to do more to improve consumer confidence.

SFA chairman Aidan O’Boyle told the association’s annual lunch that without consumer confidence and the resultant expenditure “we will never tackle the jobs crisis which afflicts us”.

Mr O'Boyle criticised the Government’s lack of urgency in addressing business growth and job creation.

And he also called for a Government-backed loan guarantee scheme to help give credit to small businesses. He said this had been successfully done in the North last year. Banks need to revert back to their old policy of “relationship banking,” he said.

Responding to reports that the Government is planning to delay publication of its four-year austerity plan until nearer the budget, Mr Cowen said the Government is in the process of preparing the plan and is trying to get it in place for the middle of November.

He stressed that the country is not returning to the bond markets until January and so it is not a question of there having to be a certain date for publication of the plan.

Mr Cowen was speaking to the media prior to the annual lunch of the Small Firms’ Association.

Commenting on the current bond market situation, Mr Cowen said when the entire four-year budgetary plan is published, it will be an important factor in the process.

Ireland is not in the bond market at the moment, and is in the process of producing the four-year plan which will provide a credible pathway back to the 3% of GDP budget deficit target by 2014, he said.

One person who attended the lunch told the Irish Examiner that Mr Cowen gave an uncompromising talk to the gathering, pointing out that tough decisions have to be taken and the Government was doing that on behalf of all of us.

“Stop whinging and get on with seemed to be the implied message,” the source told the Irish Examiner.