Statement: Labour Senators to Propose Supports for Small Business
26 March 2012
STATEMENT BY LABOUR SENATORS
Monday 26th March, 2012
LABOUR SENATORS TO PROPOSE SUPPORTS FOR SMALL BUSINESS
On Wednesday 28th March from 4.30-6.30pm, the Labour Senators' Group will be proposing a motion on the need for supports for small business and the self-employed.
The proposals being put forward this week by Labour Senators could provide important supports for those who are self-employed or running small businesses, many of whom are currently experiencing serious financial difficulties. The measures proposed include opening up the rules on tender and procurement to enable a wider range of firms and businesses to seek public contracts; and enabling company directors to invest money from their private pension funds into their businesses.
Representatives from the Small Firms' Association, ISME and Chambers Ireland will all be present in the Seanad Chamber for the duration of the event at the invitation of the Labour Senators.
TEXT OF LABOUR MOTION
That Seanad Eireann:
- Notes with grave concern the difficult economic position faced by many of those engaged in small business at this time;
- Notes the need to make more supports available for those who are self-employed;
- Proposes that the Government consider the adoption of a number of measures specifically to support small business and those who are self-employed, to include:
(a) addressing the difficulties with late payments for those contracted to provide goods and services to the public sector;
(b) opening up the rules on tender and procurement again to enable a wider range of firms and businesses to seek public contracts;
(c) the provision of greater levels of social protection, including protection in the event of illness, for those who are self-employed; and in particular for those whose business fails leading to a collapse of income;
(d) addressing high levels of local authority rates;
(e) enabling company directors to invest money from their private pension funds into their businesses
(f) ensuring increased levels of access to credit and finance facilities for small and medium enterprises.
Senators Ivana Bacik, John Gilroy, Jimmy Harte, Aideen Hayden, James Heffernan, Lorraine Higgins, John Kelly, Denis Landy, Marie Moloney, Mary Moran, Susan O'Keeffe, John Whelan.