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SMEs

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>
<span lang="EN-US">Enterprise minister Peter Burke recently introduced an ‘SME test’, with Government departments and agencies required to measure the potential impact of new policies on small and medium-sized business.</span>
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news

Enterprise minister aims to 'slash red tape' for small businesses

Peter Burke is set to meet with the heads of all agencies under his department’s remit on Tuesday, calling for simplification of processes that small businesses engage with

<p>It is expected that 557 spinal procedures will be carried out across Children's Health Ireland and the National Orthopaedic Hospital Cappagh by the end of the year — an increase of 93 on 2023. Picture: Dmytro Lukiian / Alamy Stock</p>

news

Children waiting over four months will be able to travel for spinal surgery abroad in 2025

<p>The bill will extend the franchise for electing university members of Seanad Éireann to graduates of designated institutions of higher education who hold Irish citizenship. </p>

politics

Bill to increase number of Seanad election voters on Cabinet's agenda

'Disappointing' that Cork County Council is falling behind with business payments, says minister

news

'Disappointing' that Cork County Council is falling behind with business payments, says minister

AI prompt chat bot. Search website to generate data, text or image. Man using computer with artificial intelligence app. Virtual

companies

Irish SMEs playing catch-up with AI due to skills shortage, say tech giants

Ibec chief warns Government against pre-election budget of 'handouts'

economy

Ibec chief warns Government against pre-election budget of 'handouts'

All-Ireland trade in goods tops €2.5bn in first quarter of 2024

All-Ireland trade in goods tops €2.5bn in first quarter of 2024

Latest InterTradeIreland survey data also suggests that one in four north-south traders plan to expand their operations

Mon, 27 May, 2024

SMEs expect rise in turnover which may offset wage burdens, report shows

SMEs expect rise in turnover which may offset wage burdens, report shows

Enterprise Ireland CEO Leo Clancy said the results of the research are 'positive' amid a 'challenging global economic environment for businesses'

Wed, 08 May, 2024

Sorry, we're closed

Jim Power: SMEs need support despite 'zombie' status

'Corporate social welfare' has been part of the policy environment since covid, and it will be hard to put that particular genie back into the bottle

Sun, 28 Apr, 2024

We have a deal!

Majority of SMEs confident about next year despite economy slowing

The vast majority of small firms are confident about their business prospects for next year despite a slowing economy, a survey has found.

Tue, 12 Dec, 2023

Lisbon Treaty referendum

Government to sign off on referendum to remove 'sexist' women in the home reference

The definition of family will also be broadened

Tue, 05 Dec, 2023

Woman working at a restaurant

Ibec warns that struggling SMEs may need extra financial help

70% of survey respondents are as confident now as they were six months ago — but 25% said they expected turnover to fall

Tue, 21 Nov, 2023

Details of €250m commercial rates scheme for small firms to be 'finalised in coming weeks'

Details of €250m commercial rates scheme for small firms to be 'finalised in coming weeks'

Business groups concerned at how the scheme will work, with Vintners' Federation of Ireland unhappy with a €20,000 ceiling

Thu, 19 Oct, 2023

Call for €2bn training fund for Irish small firms in budget

Call for €2bn training fund for Irish small firms in budget

Azets also urged Finance Minister Michael McGrath to set the national minimum wage increase to around 5% instead of 12%

Mon, 28 Aug, 2023

Irish SMEs raise a record €502m in Q1 following major deal by Cork company

Irish SMEs raise a record €502m in Q1 following major deal by Cork company

However, the survey also showed some smaller firms floundered in the fundraising space, as the value of deals in the €1m to €3m range fell by two thirds to €10m

Sun, 28 May, 2023

Company Insolvency And Liquidation

Deloitte: Insolvencies rise but no major shake-out from pandemic and rising interest rates

Accountancy firm forecasts there will be a total of 600 insolvencies through 2023, up from 568 insolvencies before the onset of the pandemic in 2019

Mon, 24 Apr, 2023

Azets to double workforce in response to tech and banking instability

Azets to double workforce in response to tech and banking instability

International firm acquired accountants Baker Tilly last month

Mon, 03 Apr, 2023

Remote working from home. Freelancer workplace in kitchen with laptop, cup of coffee

Rural SMEs struggle to compete with remote-working city salaries

Large employers are buying up homes to ensure their employees have somewhere to stay, an Oireachtas committee heard

Wed, 01 Mar, 2023

Company Insolvency And Liquidation

Rise in number of small firms using rescue scheme Scarp, experts say

Baker Tilly assisted the six firms that exited the Scarp scheme in the past week and among them were three companies behind the Entertainment.ie platform, including Sortridge Limited, Entertainment Media Networks, and Castleforbes Investments.

Mon, 23 Jan, 2023

Job creation grows among firms supported by Local Enterprise Offices

Job creation grows among firms supported by Local Enterprise Offices

Latest figures from LEO showed 2022 was the third highest year of job creation by the LEOs since their inception in 2014

Tue, 17 Jan, 2023

Neil McDonnell: Revenue must plan to write off half the debt warehoused due to pandemic

Neil McDonnell: Revenue must plan to write off half the debt warehoused due to pandemic

This moratorium is likely to prove the only thing standing between thousands of small businesses and insolvency

Sun, 23 Oct, 2022

Longer-term support for small firms needed as energy crisis lasts, warns banking group

Longer-term support for small firms needed as energy crisis lasts, warns banking group

'Likely that current inflationary pressures through energy price increases will continue in the short term', report on SMEs says

Wed, 12 Oct, 2022

Main street in irish town

€138,814 per month and rising: The cost of doing business in Ireland

Small Firms Association warns that viable businesses will be lost due to rising costs

Mon, 05 Sep, 2022

Male Customer Wearing Mask In Bar Making Contactless Payment For Drinks During Health Pandemic

Irish SMEs perform well despite inflation concerns

82% of Irish SMEs reported a performance better or in line with expectations in the first six months of the year

Thu, 01 Sep, 2022

CC STAFF WANTED SIGNS

Inflation adds pressure to staffing issues, leading to reduced spending

Ireland's inflation rate was 9.6% in July, according to Eurostat’s latest figures. As employees look for bigger salaries, they are also reducing their spending

Fri, 19 Aug, 2022

Woman Holding up a shop sign saying: Sorry we're Closed

Neil McDonnell: Big pay hikes would push many small businesses to cliff edge

Small businesses here are experiencing a cost-revenue squeeze on three fronts

Sun, 31 Jul, 2022

Cork digital marketing agency Granite on battling inflation and sourcing talent

Cork digital marketing agency Granite on battling inflation and sourcing talent

The firm, which has a client list that includes Pepsi, Pfizer and Knock Airport, is looking to open an office in the UK to attract more clients

Tue, 28 Jun, 2022

hacker attack, cyber crime concept

EU: One in three Irish small firms hit by cybercrime

12% of Irish SMEs who were victims of cybercrime said they had paid ransom money — double the EU average rate, research shows

Fri, 13 May, 2022

Technology Stock

Call for cybersecurity funding boost as attacks on SMEs surge

Almost 70% of small businesses believe the Government should provide more funding to protect them against cybercrimes

Mon, 07 Feb, 2022

teamwork; colleagues check sales schedules

Overhaul and reform of SME tax system urged to spur startups

Deloitte says move should be part of taxation and welfare review

Tue, 18 Jan, 2022

West Cork business hard at work to minimise the impact of restrictions

West Cork business hard at work to minimise the impact of restrictions

Jamie Budd describes the Covid challenge, how State supports have helped, and his hopes for the return of normality

Sun, 16 Jan, 2022

CC CENTRAL BANK

'Vast majority' of Covid hit firms have viable future, Central Bank says

Companies likely to be hardest hit by the crisis were those that were already struggling financially before Covid, regulator says

Mon, 13 Dec, 2021

Female waitress working at cafe

Jim Power: SME sector must be at heart of government policy

A state agency should be set up with specific responsibility for SMEs

Sun, 14 Nov, 2021

Fexco boosts SME loan kitty by €40m

Fexco boosts SME loan kitty by €40m

The money will be lent through Fexco Asset Finance’s SME lending partnership with the State’s Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland. The partnership has already lent €100m to SMEs since 2016

Mon, 18 Oct, 2021

Coronavirus - Thu Mar 18, 2021

Covid supports 'holding back tide on corporate insolvencies'

'The first half of 2022 might begin to reveal the true economic impact on the SME sector'

Mon, 11 Oct, 2021

Irish Budget

‘Large number’ of SMEs at risk if supports go, industry group warns

Small Firms Association calls on Government to extend Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme, the Covid Restrictions Support Scheme and the commercial rates waiver

Fri, 23 Apr, 2021

Neil McDonnell: Credit guarantee scheme needs overhaul if SMEs and lenders to engage meaningfully

Neil McDonnell: Credit guarantee scheme needs overhaul if SMEs and lenders to engage meaningfully

The scheme is being extended until the end of this year, but uptake needs to be boosted

Fri, 02 Apr, 2021

Businesses awaiting certainty before taking on new loans – Isme

Businesses awaiting certainty before taking on new loans – Isme

The business group said there was unlikely to be a significant increase in borrowing within the SME sector until businesses have certainty on 2021 and the lifting of pandemic restrictions

Thu, 11 Mar, 2021

RSA

Credit Guarantee Scheme expected to dominate SME lending this year

Scheme sees the State guarantee 80% of money lent by financial firms to SME customers

Wed, 03 Feb, 2021

Isme to crowdfund €500k for High Court challenge to 'private-public pension discrimination'

Isme to crowdfund €500k for High Court challenge to 'private-public pension discrimination'

'Private sector workers have little hope in building up the €2m pension pot that is enjoyed by higher-paid public sector pensioners'

Sun, 31 Jan, 2021

Training programme for small firms to cut waste

Training programme for small firms to cut waste

As well as the environmental benefits, Cork Chamber says the initiative could help firms to save money and boost competitive advantage.

Wed, 13 Jan, 2021

FILE PHOTO The Central Bank of Ireland has announced it has fined KBC Bank Ireland over €18m for regulatory breaches affecting t

Deposits by Irish firms rise as SME loans still cost double eurozone rate

The Central Bank said the quarterly increase was in part driven by the €1.3bn growth in deposits by the companies in the information and communication sector.

Wed, 09 Dec, 2020

Coronavirus - Sun Jun 7, 2020

CSO: One-third of firms still unsure about longer-term viability

A third of firms cannot say with full confidence that they will survive the next six months due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, with a tenth uncertain about their futures after one month.

Tue, 21 Jul, 2020

New Irish SME Recovery alliance seeks Covid-19 'compensation fund'

New Irish SME Recovery alliance seeks Covid-19 'compensation fund'

A new business alliance for small firms led by John Moran - who was the secretary general of the Department of Finance during the early of former Finance Minister Michael Noonan - wants the Government to draw up a two year plan and to tap European funds to pump ultra-cheap loans to help SMEs to survive the Covid-19 storm.

Tue, 05 May, 2020

Michael Clifford podcast: Eddie Hobbs on Covid-19 and the future

Michael Clifford podcast: Eddie Hobbs on Covid-19 and the future

Today’s guest on the Michael Clifford podcast is Eddie Hobbs.

Fri, 01 May, 2020

Ministers to discuss measures to protect SMEs in event of hard Brexit

Ministers to discuss measures to protect SMEs in event of hard Brexit

Protections for businesses as well as healthcare access in the event of a crash-out Brexit will be discussed by ministers at their weekly Cabinet meeting.

Tue, 17 Sep, 2019

Cork firm launches €35m SME fund

Cork firm launches €35m SME fund

A Cork-based lender has launched an initial €35m fund aimed at growth-orientated SMEs.

Tue, 02 Jul, 2019

SMEs told to beef up cybersecurity defences

SMEs told to beef up cybersecurity defences

SMEs have been urged to beef up their cybersecurity defences as attacks increase exponentially.

Tue, 09 Apr, 2019

SMEs remain ‘a drag’ on business lending growth

SMEs remain ‘a drag’ on business lending growth

Small companies remain “a drag” on business lending growth, it has been claimed, as increased repayments cancel out rising rates of new lending.

Wed, 19 Dec, 2018

Broker lowers share price targets for AIB and BOI on slowing mortgage and SME loan growth

Broker lowers share price targets for AIB and BOI on slowing mortgage and SME loan growth

Irish banks face “numerous headwinds” in growing lending to households and SMEs, said Investec Ireland, as it cut its share price targets for AIB and Bank of Ireland (BoI) and raised its target for Permanent TSB.

Fri, 07 Dec, 2018