FG vote warning

In March, the Department of Finance made headlines when it announced “steady progress” was being made in implementing a range recommendations for tackling the country’s endemic compo culture and reducing soaring insurance costs, not only for businesses but for organisations responsible for festivals and community events, many of which have been postponed or cancelled because the price of insurance cover is beyond their necessarily modest budgets.

Four months on, Isme — the association representing small- and medium-size companies — is the latest trade body to wonder if the ministry’s understanding of the word “progress” is different to that which exists beyond its walls.