Our Achievements

Taxation

• ISME lobbied for the increase of the Standard Rate Cut-Off point (increased to €44,000 from January 2025) and we continue to lobby for its extension and indexation.
• ISME successfully lobbied for the ending of tax discrimination against the self-employed by equalising the Earned Income Tax Credit with that of PAYE workers in Budget 2018.
• ISME lobbied for an increase in the small benefit exemption, currently €1,000, and rising to €1,500 in 2025.

Company Law

• ISME was the prime mover in the enactment of a Small Company Administrative Rescue Process (“SCARP”) formally delivered in the Companies (Rescue Process for Small and Micro Companies) Act 2021.

Banking

• ISME successfully lobbied Government to reduce the administrative costs on SMEs in the Companies (Accounting) Act 2017.
• ISME consulted with Central Bank to secure changes to the Banking Code of Practice for lending to SMEs which will make it more effective for small businesses.
• ISME successfully lobbied for the introduction of the Microenterprise Loan Fund and the establishment of Microfinance Ireland.
• The Association lobbied for the introduction of the Credit Guarantee Scheme to alleviate SME lending difficulties.
• The Association was instrumental in the introduction of the Bank Switching Code, which allows small businesses to change banks in a faster and more efficient manner.

Public Procurement

• Secured changes to the Public Procurement Process to make it more accessible to SMEs.
• Lobbied for the establishment of the Tender Advisory Service.

Retail

• Successfully lobbied for the establishment of the Retail Consultation Forum to aid struggling retailers.

Prompt Payments

• ISME was part of a group of stakeholders who introduced the Prompt Payment Code and Portal, which was re-launched in March 2017.
• After much lobbying from the Association we succeeded in getting the new 15 day Prompt Payment requirement for all public sector bodies and agencies (excl. commercial Semi-State bodies).

Insurance

• ISME was instrumental in the introduction of the Personal Injuries Assessment Board, and driving the amendments that led to its evolution into the Personal Injuries Resolution Board.
• After years of lobbying for reduced personal injuries awards, and the publication of our own ISME Fair Book of Quantum, the Judicial Council published its  Personal Injuries Guidelines in 2021.
• ISME successfully lobbied for the passage of Criminal Justice (Perjury and Related Offences Act 2021 onto the statute book.
• Although it does not go far enough, our hard work has finally produced a Defamation Reform Bill

VAT

• With the SME Alliance, ISME successfully campaigned for the return of the 9% VAT rate for the hospitality and services sector in Budget 2026.

Other

• ISME successfully lobbied for the passage of Criminal Justice (Perjury and Related Offences) Bill 2018 through all stages in the Oireachtas. ISME has campaigned for the introduction of a statutory perjury offence since 2017 and believes that this legislation is long overdue and is needed to tackle white-collar crime and fraudulent litigation.
• ISME worked with SMEunited to secure changes to Multi-lateral Interchange Fee regulation in order to make it more SME friendly.
• ISME lobbied Government to introduce a Shared Based Remuneration Scheme, in Budget 2018 the Government introduced Key Employee Engagement Programme (KEEP).
• ISME was instrumental in the setting up of the Advisory Group on Small Business, many of whose recommendations to improve the environment for smaller companies have been approved at Government level.
• ISME lobbied Government to introduce a Shared Based Remuneration Scheme, in Budget 2018 the Government introduced Key Employee Engagement Program (KEEP).
• ISME has coordinated the lobbying activities of multiple other representative groups towards a common set of goals with the SME Alliance
• ISME was instrumental in the setting up of the Advisory Group on Small Business, many of whose recommendations to improve the environment for smaller companies have been approved at Government level.
• ISME has lobbied for support and greater provisions of affordable childcare to assist greater workforce activation amongst women.