The CEO of Kilkenny Chamber, John Hurley, has expressed concern over the increasing costs faced by businesses, stating that such rises are troubling as they impact both affordability for customers and competitiveness for local businesses.
Hurley’s comments come in response to Fáilte Ireland’s analysis of the past year, which paints a mixed picture for the tourism industry. While the report highlights rising revenues, it also raises concerns about the growing costs of doing business in the sector.
“We need to reform business taxation in the light of all these things that are going on and in particular at the employment legislation piece,” said Mr. Hurley. “It’s essential that we look at these challenges in the context of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which are often the backbone of our local economy.”
Hurley is calling on the government to adopt a “Think Small First” principle to support SMEs, ensuring that policies take into account the specific needs and challenges faced by smaller businesses. With many enterprises already stretched thin by rising operational costs, Hurley believes that targeted support could help sustain their growth and competitiveness in the market.
