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For those who did experience crime, anti-social behaviour, vandalism, burglary and phishing attacks were the most common offences.

64% of SMEs unaffected by crime in past 12 months

64% of Irish SMEs were unaffected by crime in the past 12 months, according to new research by ISME.

Elaine Dunne, ISME's new vice-chair and Finbarr Filan, ISME's new chairperson

ISME elects Sligo's Filan as its new chair

The Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association (ISME) has elected Sligo businessman Finbarr Filan as its new Chair at its AGM in Dublin.

Business • 26 May

FraudSMART is partnering with ISME to launch a new fraud awareness campaign for SMEs

Over €17m lost by SMEs through email-related scams

Small and medium-sized businesses have lost over €17m through email-related scams over the past two years, new figures show today.

Business • 10 Apr

ISME said that Budget 2025 was pitched as a general election budget and not as a business budget

General welcome to Budget 2025 from business groups

Business group Ibec has welcomed the "ambitious" scale of investment outlined in Budget 2025, particularly in terms of infrastructure and human capital.

Business • 02 Oct 24

(Stock image) The NTF is paid for by employers through a 1% Employer's PRSI levy

ISME calls for National Training Fund surplus to be used

Business group ISME has called on the Government to release available funding under the National Training Fund, to improve workplace skills for employees.

Business • 28 Aug 24

The Government has committed to replacing the minimum wage with a new living wage

ISME warns no justification for €1 rise in minimum wage

The small and medium sized business organisation ISME has said there would be no justification for a further increase in the national minimum wage of €1 in the budget.

Business • 15 Aug 24

The minimum wage is currently €12.70 per hour, however legislation allows employers to pay young workers an age-based sub-minimum rate.

Is it fair for young people to be paid less than adults?

Legislation allows employers in Ireland to pay those under 20 less than their older colleagues - but is this fair?

Business • 28 Jul 24

FraudSMART has joined forces with the Irish SME Association (ISME) to urge SMEs to be on the alert.

SMEs lost €10m through email-related scams last year

Small and medium sized businesses lost almost €10m through email-related scams last year.

Business • 12 Jul 24

On June 7, people will vote in both the local and European elections.

Shopping for votes: What companies want from the election

Since the last local and European elections in 2019 businesses have had to deal with a once in lifetime pandemic, the ins and outs of trade post-Brexit, soaring fuel costs amid the first war in Europe in a generation and the bite of inflation.

Business • 30 May 24

Sick leave laws came into operation in January 2023

Would pausing rollout of new sick pay laws be justified?

The new Taoiseach has promised to prioritise supports for small businesses, acknowledging that extra costs have been imposed on firms in quick succession.

Business • 13 Apr 24

Retail Excellence Ireland said a recent survey showed that nearly half of its members will not be able to cope with rising operating costs

Warning of retail closures if Govt does not cut VAT rate

Retailers are warning that the sector is facing mass closures unless the Government introduces a lower rate of VAT in order to help firms meeting rapidly rising costs.

Business • 06 Feb 24

ISME said the Minister must continue to hold firm against what it described as 'unreasonable expectations' from trade unions

Minister right to 'stand his ground' on pay talks: ISME

ISME, the Irish Small & Medium Enterprises Association, has voiced its support for Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe in the ongoing public sector pay talks.

Business • 15 Jan 24

Neil McDonnell said hospitality firms would be particularly impacted by increases in the minimum wage next year

Changes to Govt cost of business scheme "backward step"

Small and medium sized businesses have expressed disappointment at planned changes to the Government's proposed Increased Cost of Business Scheme (ICOB), which will result in those that pay higher commercial rates receiving less than originally thought.

Business • 05 Dec 23

Ross McCarthy was Chairman of ISME from 2019-2021

Former ISME Chair McCarthy elected to European SME role

Former ISME Chairman Ross McCarthy has been elected to the Board of SMEUnited in Brussels, the association of crafts and SMEs in Europe.

Business • 04 Dec 23

ISME said today it was conscious of not wishing to overheat the economy with a tax give-away.

ISME details priorities for Budget 2024

ISME, the Irish Small & Medium Enterprises Association, has called for reform of the VAT system, the introduction of a USC levy of 3% on PAYE incomes of over 100,000 and the introduction of auto-enrolement as soon as possible in Budget 2024.

Business • 02 Oct 23

ISME has warned that the proposed 12.4% NMW increase will create a financially unsustainable situation for many SMEs around the country

ISME warns on proposed NMW increase impact on SMEs

ISME has today written to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to highlight issues around the impact of the proposed 12.4% increase on the National Minimum Wage in 2024.

Business • 31 Jul 23

The Low Pay Commission is reviewing whether subminimum youth rates should be retained, removed or adjusted

Youth minimum wage rates not discriminatory - ISME

The Irish Small and Medium Enterprise Association (ISME) said it is 'nonsensical' to suggest that subminimum rates of pay for young workers are discriminatory.

Business • 25 Jul 23

The Low Pay Commission is expected to recommend to the Government that it increases the minimum wage next year by 12%

Planned minimum wage hike unaffordable for many SMEs

ISME has expressed concern that the increase in the minimum wage planned by the Low Pay Commission for next year will be unaffordable for many small businesses.

Business • 19 Jul 23

Marc O'Dwyer appointed Chair of ISME

Big Red Cloud chief executive Marc O'Dwyer takes over today as Chair of ISME, which represents small and medium sized firms here.

Business • 23 May 23

Chambers Ireland said the housing crisis is having a tremendous effect on productivity

Business groups criticise lack of housing availability

Business groups representing tens of thousands of firms across the country have hit out at the effects that the housing crisis is having on their operations, with one claiming it is constraining economic growth.

Business • 01 Mar 23

The Minister for Finance confirmed to RTE News over the weekend that the supports for business struggling to pay energy bills were to be reviewed

Call for extension and streamlining of TBESS process

ISME, the group representing small and medium sized firms, has called for the continuation of the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme beyond the end of February and for the streamlining of the application process which it says is 'extremely complex' to apply for.

Business • 13 Feb 23

Minister Catherine Martin said the tourism industry supports 325,000 jobs on the island of Ireland

Tourism minister seeks further extension of 9% VAT rate

The Minister for Tourism has said she will seek a further extension of the 9% VAT rate for the tourism and hospitality sector in Ireland.

Business • 16 Jan 23

ISME warned the living wage will have no impact on the affordability of housing and rental accommodation for workers (file image)

ISME warns of economic and social costs of living wage

The Irish Small and Medium Enterprise Association (ISME) has warned of potential negative impacts of the planned increase to the national minimum wage to establish a living wage.

Business • 23 Nov 22

ISME's campaign has been developed to promote products and services from SMEs across the country

ISME launches new Shop and Support Local campaign

ISME has today launched its 2022 Shop Local campaign calling on shoppers and businesses to "Think, Spend and Support Local".

Business • 10 Nov 22

It suggests that the threshold for collective bargaining should be 10% of the workforce with no minimum limit as to the number of employees.

ISME concerned about proposals on collective bargaining

Small and medium sized business organisation, ISME, has said it is gravely concerned about proposals on collective bargaining put forward by a Government backed working group.

Business • 10 Oct 22

Isme