ISME

09/10/2026

"It doesn't make sense to hire smart people and tell them what to do; we hire smart people so they can tell us what to do." Steve Jobs.

ISME Ireland’s CEO Neil McDonnell in the latest Members Voice update on not addressing the jeopardy of an acute reliance of corporate tax from so few FDI companies. He wonders why the Government seems to ignore advice on this critical issue, not just from ISME, but from Central Bank of Ireland, The Esri Ireland - The Economic Scientific Research Institute, The National Competitiveness and Productivity Council, and Irish Fiscal Advisory Council.

06/10/2026

ISME Ireland welcomes some positive measures, but fails to address long-term risks facing indigenous enterprise and once again missed an opportunity to strengthen the competitiveness, resilience and scaling potential of Irish-owned businesses.

ISME’s CEO Neil McDonnell comments “Ireland's long-term economic resilience depends on building a stronger indigenous enterprise base. The growing imbalance between domestic business and multinational activity represents one of the greatest risks facing the public finances, yet Budget 2027 does little to address that challenge.”

Read full press release here: https://isme.ie/isme-response-to-budget-2027

02/10/2026

Looking for a good read this weekend? 🍂

The Autumn issue of bISME is here, packed with expert perspectives, practical advice and stories from across Ireland’s SME community.

Our cover star Cormac Fitzgerald, ISME National Council Member and Principal of Fitzgerald & Partners Accountants, joins us for The b Interview, alongside insights on everything from AI and leadership to pensions, sustainability and life in the workplace.

Grab a cuppa and settle in for a browse!

Credit Review Health and Safety Authority SmartHost ISME Skillnet SturdyProducts Verify Technologies SEAI National Enterprise Hub LIA

Click on the link to read and download our Autumn issue: https://isme.ie/publication/the-bisme-33/

01/10/2026

Attention ISME Members! 📢 Your October Members' Monthly is now available to read and download. This issue contains latest news, events and HR updates along with upcoming learning opportunities with ISME Skillnet.

To read and download, please visit our website and login: https://zurl.co/Hq3C9

25/09/2026

ISME Ireland Chair Finbarr Filan and CEO Neil McDonnell pictured with Jack Chambers, Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation earlier today. We never take for granted this level of access to senior Ministers and we thank Deputy Chambers for his time and attention to our Budget 2027 recommendations.

25/09/2026

Is the move to a national living wage slowly choking Irish SMEs? In Today’s The Irish Times, ISME Ireland Chair Finbarr Filan describes how there is a cost-of-doing-BUSINESS crises across the SME sector in Ireland. With the minimum wage, increases over and above inflation prompt firms to stop hiring, reduce staff hours or lay off workers, moves that rebound negatively on low-paid workers themselves, the cohort governments are trying to protect. “Many businesses are at a point where they are no longer able to pass on the costs to their customers due to the cost-of-living issues,” says Filan.

In its 2027 budget submission, ISME details how Government can escape this catch-22 and have policies that enable smaller business to thrive while workers earn a decent wage.

Read ISME's 2027 Budget Submission - https://zurl.co/Lp803

Read full Irish Times Article - https://zurl.co/JqsXh

22/09/2026

In the latest Members’ Voice update from ISME Ireland, CEO Neil McDonnell discusses our latest submission to Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment highlighting how the National Training Fund should be used to upskill small-business owners and managers to help them scale. And Limerick is the next destination for our Leadership and Networking Forum this coming Wednesday. Hope you see you there!

01/09/2026

Attention ISME Members! 📢 Your September Members' Monthly is now available to read and download. This issue contains latest news, events and HR updates along with upcoming learning opportunities with ISME Skillnet.

Log in and read the latest issue here: https://zurl.co/TAUUN

20/08/2026

New Member Welcome! DCS Services is an Irish facilities management and field services company delivering high-quality maintenance and support solutions to clients across Ireland. With a team of experienced engineers and technicians, DCS Services provides both proactive and reactive maintenance, alongside a broad range of specialist services including contract labour & cleaning, landscaping, pallet racking solutions, periodic electrical inspections, line marking, furniture & interiors supply and installation and space planning. The company partners with major retail and commercial clients, managing multi-site contracts with a strong focus on responsiveness, quality, and value. Investing continuously in people, processes, and technology, DCS Services is built for long-term, reliable partnerships.

Check out their website for more information: https://www.dcsservices.ie/

12/08/2026

The Fraud Smart team are reporting an increase in SMEs being targeted by fraudsters using highly convincing scam tactics. The fraud often begins with a text message claiming to be from a bank regarding suspected fraudulent activity on an account. This is followed by a phone call from someone posing as a member of their bank's fraud or security team. In some cases, victims are asked to hand over their bank card to a supposed bank representative who collects it in person. There have also been attempts to collect physical cash from the victim at a nearby ATM.

Consumers can access a wealth of other advice on how to avoid scams by visiting www.FraudSMART.ie and signing up for email alerts on current risks and scams as they emerge.

Full details available here: https://isme.ie/fraudsmart-warning-beware-of-courier-card-scams

A courier card scam is where fraudsters pretend to be your bank and arrange for your bank card to be collected from your home under the guise of “security r ...