Proposed minimum wage increase will not deliver for workers
Divergence in wage levels is enormous. 19th July 2023: ISME is concerned that the big increase in the minimum wage planned by the Low Pay Commission for next year will be unaffordable for many small businesses. A 12.4% increase in...
ISME calls on Government to urgently tackle fraud on businesses
Failure to tackle online and telephone fraud costs small businesses €310 million annually 5th July 2023: The Irish SME Association, ISME, is calling on Government to introduce measures as a matter of urgency, that will help tackle and reduce business fraud in...
ISME Makes Submission for Budget 2024
Fix VAT rates at 21% and 9% - Establish a Public Spending Commission - Publish debt profile of national debt. Dublin 26th April 2023 - ISME, the Irish Small & Medium Enterprises Association, representing more than 10,500 direct and thirty-three...
ISME welcomes new procurement circular 05-2023
ISME welcomes the publication by DPENDR of the new procurement circular 05-2023. Key changes to procurement procedures covered by the circular include: An increase to the advertising threshold for goods and services contracts from €25,000 to €50,000 (ex VAT). An...
Call for exemptions for SMEs on CSDDD
The Irish SME Association (ISME) is calling on Government MEPs in Brussels to reconsider the recommendations in the draft EU Parliament report on the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD). ISME wrote to MEPs this week to ensure the EU...
Continuation of 9% VAT rate for tourism sector
The Irish SME Association (ISME) has renewed calls for an extension to the 9% VAT rate to the whole services sector and pointed to the benefits for employment and social contributions. According to Neil McDonnell, CEO of ISME: “The desire...
ISME warns of negative impact of the proposed increase to minimum wage
A living wage will come at a serious economic and social cost ISME has warned against the potential negative impact of the planned increase to the National Minimum to a ‘Living Wage’. Last week, the Government announced a plan to...
ISME response to Budget 2023
ISME has expressed its disappointment at the lack of direct support for SME’s in Budget 2023. While welcoming the positive measures announced today to tackle the rising cost of living, ISME is concerned that the measures announced to support businesses...
Public sector pay demands represent self-interest not the national interest
31st August 2022: While we understand the pressure on public sector pay because of inflation, the fact is that the public service already enjoys wages that are 22% higher than the average private sector wage, and 46% higher than the...
ISME calls for financial support for SMEs amid ongoing energy crisis
23rd August 2022: The Irish SME Association (ISME) is calling on the Government to provide greater levels of support for SME businesses in Ireland amid the ever-worsening energy cost crisis. While the Government has tried to mitigate the impact of...
