ISME survey shows overall rise for Govt in satisfaction ratings

The Irish Small & Medium Enterprises Association's survey shows an improvement in the Government satisfaction rating from last year.

The ISME survey of 1,000 SMEs continues to show the dissatisfaction with the Government’s performance in the areas of business costs, banking, jobs and dealing with the Troika.

However, the combined satisfaction rating of minus 51 shows an improvement from minus 57 in winter 2012.

The survey was carried out prior to the prompt payments directive and nominations to the Action Plan advisory body.

ISME CEO, Mark Fielding said: "While the overall trend is going in the correct direction, the Government need not take too much solace from this survey of SME owners, as their performance on business costs merits them a minus 75, closely followed by minus 70 for their efforts on the banking crisis.

"The score on Government’s dealing with the Troika merits an improving minus 15 and the jobs effort is improving with a minus 45.

"However the survey was carried out prior to the double insult of the disastrous Prompt Payments directive and the serious omission of SME owners from the Action Plan for Jobs advisory body.

"The directive will actually make it more difficult to be paid on time and the omission of SMEs from the jobs advisory body shows clearly that this Government has turned its back on the sector, despite its continuous assertions that the SME sector is the backbone of the economy."