ISME has called for the establishment of a new National Representation Forum to replace the social partnership process.
Launching its pre-election agenda today, the assocation said such a forum is "urgently required" to replace what it called the "failed social partnership process." The forum would include business representatives, unions, representatives of the ESRI, Central Bank as well as front bench spokespersons, according to ISME.
The association, which represents small and medium-sized businesses, said the incoming government needs to show a "fundamental change in attitude" towards smaller companies, calling for the new administration to recognise the significant contribution the sector makes to employment, purchasing power, tax revenue and economic growth.
Among the areas of concern for small businesses highlighted by ISME include competitiveness, access to finance and the problem of late payments.
It also called for reform of the public sector. Arguing that the public sector pay bill represents over one third of all current expenditure, the association said that it is "imperative that a new framework for delivering public services at a reasonable cost is introduced, to restore confidence and protect jobs across the economy."
ISME chief executive Mark Fielding said that SME's must be at the centre of the Government's decision making process. "It is essential that political parties recognise that it is SMEs who create jobs and that politicians' role is to support them by creating the correct environment" he said. "The adoption and implementation of strategies for driving entrepreneurship and small business development in Ireland is critical in addressing the current economic crisis. The importance of local entrepreneurs and local businesses for both local and national economic regeneration and development must be recognised by our politicians."
