Madam, – Marie O’Halloran’s article, “Cowen rows back on State loan scheme for business” highlights the gap in thinking between the political and business sectors (Dáil Report, October 14th).
This apparent and abhorrent reversal flies in the face of the “we-value-the-SME-sector” line trotted out by all politicians at various conferences and especially when vote-collecting.
One does not need to hold an economic title to know that small businesses need access to finance (ie cash) to support their businesses and to pay their 800,000 taxpaying employees. Business owners do not need more talk, more interdepartmental discussion, more economic assessment; they need action on making finance available and accessible, and they need it now.
Ms O’Halloran’s article stated that Batt O’Keeffe “was hopeful the detail on its [ie the loan scheme’s] operation could be finalised shortly”.
What does “shortly” mean? Perhaps when the shops are empty, the factory gates have closed and when India and China employ our brightest and best?
The Government should procrastinate no longer. It needs to put this stimulus in place, instruct the banks to be creative, and lend!
We, the small and medium enterprise employers of Ireland need the Government to act on this matter and encourage SME owners to continue to be the employment bedrock of this country. – Yours, etc,