Small businesses in threat to withhold taxes
Small business representatives today issued an angry response to indications that the Government was considering a plan to enforce unpaid leave in the public sector, instead of direct pay cuts, as a means of achieving €1.3bn in savings.
The Irish Small & Medium Enterprises association (ISME) said many members had said that they feel they have no option but to withhold taxes in a form of protest.
ISME accused the Government of capitulation, outlining that a “once in a lifetime opportunity to reform and reduce the cost of the public sector” has been lost.
“At a time when small businesses are shedding jobs and struggling to survive, the public sector, once again, are allowed off the hook by a weak-kneed and lily-livered Government,” said ISME chairman, Eilis Quinlan.
“Companies are telling me that they are no longer willing to pay taxes that are only going to maintain a public sector that is not prepared to share the pain with the rest of society,” she added.
“The Association is concerned that unless the Government deliver and secure the necessary savings, small business owners will have no option but to deliver on their threats to withhold taxes"
