12/09/2002
DFP Rates review must make real change says FSB
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has challenged the Finance and Personnel Minister Sean Farren to be "radical" when considering the outcome of his department's Rates Review.
The call comes after the FSB held a seminar to facilitate its own response to the Rates Review at the assembly on Wednesday evening.
The seminar was attended by the Chairman of the Assembly’s Finance and Personnel Committee, Francie Molloy, as well as assembly members, civic leaders and a wide cross-section of FSB members from across Northern Ireland.
Speaking at Stormont last night, Wilfred Mitchell, NI Policy Chairman, said: “We were pleased with the turn out and the wide variety of views that were expressed, which has given us considerable food for thought when we conclude our submission to the Department of Finance and Personnel and its scrutiny committee in the assembly.
“One thing was very clear from our meeting that what is required is a system of rates which does not cause considerable hardship for small businesses in Northern Ireland and that radical change is needed if a vital area of our economy is to develop.”
This was the first of two seminars which the FSB is holding, the second takes place tonight in the Everglades Hotel, Co Londonderry. (MB)
The call comes after the FSB held a seminar to facilitate its own response to the Rates Review at the assembly on Wednesday evening.
The seminar was attended by the Chairman of the Assembly’s Finance and Personnel Committee, Francie Molloy, as well as assembly members, civic leaders and a wide cross-section of FSB members from across Northern Ireland.
Speaking at Stormont last night, Wilfred Mitchell, NI Policy Chairman, said: “We were pleased with the turn out and the wide variety of views that were expressed, which has given us considerable food for thought when we conclude our submission to the Department of Finance and Personnel and its scrutiny committee in the assembly.
“One thing was very clear from our meeting that what is required is a system of rates which does not cause considerable hardship for small businesses in Northern Ireland and that radical change is needed if a vital area of our economy is to develop.”
This was the first of two seminars which the FSB is holding, the second takes place tonight in the Everglades Hotel, Co Londonderry. (MB)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.