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THE IRISH GOVERNMENT needs to focus on helping owner-managers rather than creating jobs if it wants a quick economic recovery, one business lobby group has said.
The Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Assoscation (ISME) wants business costs cut to stimulate jobs growth in the upcoming budget.
Chief executive Mark Fielding said genuine expense-saving initiatives like reversing this year’s PRSI rate increase would help make employment growth – particularly among the long-term jobless – a reality.
“Government needs to be business focused rather than jobs focused, as this is slowing the rate of recovery,” he said.
The upcoming Budget is the Government’s chance to introduce effective measures to help SMEs to grow.”
Employers’ PRSI contributions, which are paid into the national social insurance find, were halved to 4.25% for low-paid workers in 2011, but the amount was restored to its 8.5% level at the start of this year.
Less unemployed, but larger share are long-term jobless
Fielding’s comments follow today’s release of the latest Live Register figures from the Central Statistics Office.
The register, which tracks people signed up for government benefits, showed the jobless rate had fallen again last month to 11.1%, although the proportion of long-term unemployed has been rising and they now make up nearly half of all claimants.
Fielding said the budget gave the government the chance to deliver a business-stimulus package that would encourage SMEs to employ more workers.
READ: SMEs call for Budget 2015 to focus on competitiveness
READ: Jobless figures down, though they’re still doling it out
The real problem for black movies is not a ‘racist’ industry.
It’s the subject matter.
Black people need to step outside the hood for a minute and realise they’re living on a large planet in the solar system with a multitude of cultural diversity.
Try engaging with the rest of humanity in an artistic sense and people will respond.
Murder, mayhem and crack cocaine become tediously one dimensional after a while.
Idris Elba just won the SAG for portraying an African warlord.
Creed is about a well off black man who follows his father into boxing. Written and directed by a talented black filmmaker.
Will Smith plays a Nigerian doctor who was responsible for an important medical discovery in Concussion.
So there’s that.
But being a dick is a good option too.
Have to agree. Will Smith for concussion is exactly the point – he deserved at least a nomination.
James, which performance would his have replaced?
You’re racist.
Great film. The boy in particular is outstanding.
Idris Elba wasn’t overlooked for an Oscar nomination, films on Netflix don’t meet the criteria for the Oscars and never receive nominations.
It did this year though they showed it in an LA cinema for the few weeks. I don’t think the Academy will ever give a Netflix movie a nod. It was an outstanding movie
It won’t be the last great film that won’t get a nod but that’s the Oscars for you. He’s brilliant in everything so I’ve no doubt his time will come.
The Chinese will also be up in arms. No nominations for the Oscars for years!
Brie’s dress looks like she was in a scrap before she went on stage.
Sexy though.
It’s all about ‘The Dress’.
The boy in this should be nominated! He was outstanding in it. Really enjoyed the film. Not often does a film live up to the book, but this did.
I’d have happily swapped out Stallone for Jacob Tremblay. He’s the least deserving in the category and will probably win it.
Hes too white and Kayne will be upset
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