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.
So, what are they looking for from the current crop of candidates? We’ve been finding out.
James Coughlan is Director of Astropark, a company that runs astro pitch facilities across Dublin.
Rising labour costs are having a huge impact on his business.
“My wage bill will increase by €90,000 each year for the next three years – that is €270,000 in total – how do I fund that?,” he asked.
“Do I increase my prices, do I reduce my roster, do I absorb it in my net margin? And how many years before I have no net margin? These are serious questions,” he said.
Mr Coughlan said many businesses across the country are struggling to meet new requirements put on them by politicians.
“Frankly, a lot of the Government imposed costs on the SME community have arisen since the budget last October which effects 2024 onwards,” he said.
“It is not fun stuff to talk about when you start talking about the living wage, auto enrolment, sick pay, and all the other additional costs that have been voiced upon businesses.
“We understand that this is a cost of living crisis but what the Government seems to be doing is saying ‘let’s pass that ball to the SME community, let them sort it out’. Well what happens if they can’t?,” he asked.
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For many businesses the upcoming elections are a chance to put the focus back on local communities, and SMEs.
“I think there is an awful lot of emphasis on the bigger companies, obviously they get the reduced corporation tax, but where is this support for our own Irish indigenous businesses?, asked Brenda Kelly of retail technology business Positive Retail, which works with small businesses across Ireland.
Ms Kelly said small businesses should be putting election candidates under pressure to secure more support.
“We need reductions in the VAT rates definitely,” she said.
“The rates SMEs pay for their storefronts is a huge cost for them, and we need subsidies to help them grow and develop online schemes – to get their websites up to scratch, to have some sort of marketing help when it comes to content even recording videos on social media.
“It is all very hard and it is a lot for them – so more supports down that avenue would be great,” she added.
Despite a roaring economy, many small businesses aren’t feeling the benefits.
“It’s been a perfect storm for businesses and I don’t know when it’s going to end,” said Damon Crowe, who runs three Dublin restaurants as CEO of the Red Torch Ginger group.
He said the restaurant industry is very volatile at the moment, between trying to maintain staff levels, and meeting your tax requirements every month with Revenue.
“The volatility within the utilities is still there and costs are still very high and interest rates are still very high,” he said.
“I think businesses have a long, hard road ahead, so we need to fight hard, give grants and maintain jobs.
“I hope that the MEP’s going forward, including those within the EU and the Irish guys who actually make it, that they can create a steady growth pattern and incentivise businesses and entrepreneurship,” he added.
Mr Crowe said politicians at home need to step up too.
“I think unless they start to move a little bit faster and react faster, you’re going to see an awful lot more SMEs go by the wayside and I just hope that politicians are able to turn around and make hard calls with the civil service to actually take the foot off the neck of our SMEs in this country,” he added.
So, when candidates come shopping for your vote, what should you be asking them?
Neil McDonnell, CEO of the Irish Small and Medium Enterprise Association (ISME) urged the public to put questions to candidates on behalf of local businesses.
“We would like them to say what is your policy on local rates, do you think small shopkeepers in the centre of a village should be paying large rates, what are you going to do about dereliction in my village, what are you going to do to convert derelict sites or empty accommodation into affordable rental for our young people because they are leaving the country because they can’t afford to live here,” he said.
“On the European side, the particular issue we would like people to engage with is the fact that an awful lot of workplace and social legislation is now Brussels driven, so our message is, if you wouldn’t elect someone to Dáil Éireann, then don’t think about electing them to Brussels in the European elections,” he added.