Small companies are reporting layoffs and a significant fall in turnover as a result of the foot-and-mouth crisis, the Small Firms Association (SFA) has said.
"While the SFA fully supports the efforts to keep the foot-and-mouth threat at bay, it must be achieved in an even-handed manner," SFA's director, Mr Pat Delaney, said.
"Any financial supports which the Government makes available must be available to all businesses that can demonstrate a financial loss because of foot-and-mouth, not just those within the agri-sector," he said.
