Call for appointment of SME minister
A senior minister with direct responsibility for the SME sector and a brief to develop indigenous small and medium enterprises should be appointed by the Taoiseach, SME representative group the Irish Small & Medium Enterprises Association (ISME) said today.
Taoiseach Brian Cowen is set to announce a cabinet reshuffle tomorrow that is widely expected to include changes to the portfolios of numerous departments, with the establishment of a new Department of Economic Planning and Enterprise.
Today ISMA called for a recognition of the vital role that indigenous business plays in the development of the economy.
“SMEs have consistently demonstrated that, when provided with the right economic conditions, they have the ability to deliver us out of the current economic situation as employment and wealth creators, with a loyalty to the local economies that they serve,” the association said in a statement.
“The Government therefore must shift its focus from the ‘multinationals at all costs’ approach to adopting a policy that also assists in the promotion of indigenous enterprise and in particular the development of SMEs.”
“Now is the time for the Government to show its commitment to the Irish SME sector, which generates over €10bn for the exchequer annually, by appointing a SME minister with direct responsibility for developing, stimulating and incentivising indigenous companies,” said ISME Chief Executive Mark Fielding.
