FF to woo SME vote

FIANNA Fáil will pitch its economic proposals to the business community today as it continues the groundwork for next year’s general election.

The party is hosting a conference in Galway focusing on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Enterprise Minister Micheal Martin will outline Fianna Fáil’s plans to ensure “the future growth and expansion” of SMEs, as the party attempts to nail down the sector’s vote.

Finance Minister Brian Cowen will also address the conference, as will Community Minister Eamon Ó Cuiv and junior minister Frank Fahey, who are both based in the constituency.

All are expected to firmly push the message that Fianna Fáil will do more for the sector than the opposition.

But the party may have its work cut out for it, after ISME, which represents the sector, yesterday made clear its unhappiness with the recent social partnership agreement, saying SMEs would struggle to meet the projected wage increases.

The conference at the Galway Bay Hotel in Salthill will feature guest speakers, such as John Dunne of Chambers Ireland and Marian Coy of the Galway/Mayo Institute of Technology.

There are around 250,000 SMEs nationwide, employing 750,000 people.