County Tipperary Chamber in partnership with the Association of European Chambers of Commerce and Industry (EUROCHAMBRES), has published new data on the impact of COVID-19 on female entrepreneurs and women-led businesses.
The research has revealed that the COVID-19 confinement measures have heightened several pre-existing obstacles for female entrepreneurs.
The survey of 536 female-led businesses across Europe, found that 46% of respondents noted that remote working, imposed by pandemic restrictions, meant they had to take on more home duties. 51% of respondents noted that their work-life balance had been strongly or severely impacted in a negative sense.
Looking at the Irish data specifically, 57% of female entrepreneurs noted that remote working made it more difficult to carry our caring and home duties. This figure is more than 10% higher than their European counterparts.
Speaking today, Michelle Aylward CEO County Tipperary Chamber, called for a national strategy on flexible working and more measures to support greater parenting equality.
“Throughout the past year, research has indicated that the impact of the pandemic has been felt more strongly by women. This ranges from part-time workers who have lost their jobs, to frontline workers in health and essential services. We are also conscious that increasing amounts of data is pointing to the fact that the work-life balance of women in the workplace has been negatively impacted.
The research published by Eurochambres this morning is extremely welcome. It evidences what we have been hearing from many of our members throughout the past
year - which is that women in the workplace have been more likely to carry the weight of caring responsibilities and home duties during restrictions.
As we approach International Women’s Day, our message to Government and policymakers is that they must ensure the long-term impact of the pandemic does not result in a permanently wider gender pay gap. Flexible working, parenting equality and investment in affordable childcare must be at the centre of the National Economic Plan and the Government’s response to the recovery.
Our message to our own members and employers is that we must work even harder to ensure family-friendly work policies are a bigger part of the workplace. While schools and childcare have started to re-open, flexibility and support for working families will remain a necessity. A workplace that places gender equality at the heart of its operations is a workplace which is flexible and supportive of working families. As we approach International Women’s Day, we must ensure that this message is heard loud and clear.”

CEO Michelle Aylward, says three-month extension not long enough and calls on Government to leave incremental half-measures in the past, and start afresh with an expansive, data-driven plan to support business through the impact of COVID-19.
Speaking this evening, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot said
“The extension of existing financial supports is good news, as it reduces some of the uncertainty for businesses. Yet, right across our Network, there is the very real concern that Government is still failing to engage with the reality of the situation facing our local economies.
Wage supports, commercial rates waivers and debt warehousing will be needed for most of 2021. While the announcements this evening are welcome, the business community fears we will be back in this position again in a few short months, seeking clarity on further extensions. The need to rebuild business confidence is now critical.
Since the start of the year, County Tipperary Chamber has warned that existing financial supports do not go far enough - too many businesses are left out. For many that are eligible, the existing rates of support do not go far enough, given the scale of economic shock facing the most vulnerable sectors and the length of time they have been impacted.
Debts for many businesses are mounting, and the supports available are rarely enough to offset them. When a reopening finally occurs, many businesses will see their lockdown debts threaten their long-term viability.
None of our members want to risk a Fourth Wave, combined with another lockdown. County Tipperary Chamber urges for a measured, conservative, data-driven approach to re-opening the economy which includes realistic supports for, and better communication with, restricted businesses.
Reducing, if not eradicating, community transmission will be essential for businesses to re-open safely. Ensuring the reopening is sustainable is another key challenge. Robust public-health measures must be in place to prevent the introduction of new strains of the virus. Without them we will undermine our progress in reducing transmission, which has come at such great sacrifice to so many, while also running the risk of undermining our own vaccine programme.
There is growing frustration throughout the business community regarding the COVID-19 communications and guidance. Trust is easily lost, and hard earned. Many business owners are losing their faith in the adequacy of the Government response, and if this happens, we are very concerned that it will erode adherence to the public health protocols.
​Reducing, if not eradicating, community transmission will be essential for businesses to re-open safely. Ensuring the reopening is sustainable is another key challenge. Robust public-health measures must be in place to prevent the introduction of new strains of the virus. Without them we will undermine our progress in reducing transmission, which has come at such great sacrifice to so many, while also running the risk of undermining our own vaccine programme.
There is growing frustration throughout the business community regarding the COVID-19 communications and guidance. Trust is easily lost, and hard earned. Many business owners are losing their faith in the adequacy of the Government response, and if this happens, we are very concerned that it will erode adherence to the public health protocols.
We are now 12 months on from the first case of COVID-19 in Ireland. County Tipperary Chamber hopes the new Government strategy will be a fresh start, and an opportunity for us to use the lessons of the past year to suppress the virus while supporting local economies.”

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris TD and Minister of State for Skills and Further Education Niall Collins TD have today (February 15th) confirmed Brexit customs supports will be extended to businesses for the first quarter of the year.  
Since the beginning of this year, businesses, trading either with or through Great Britain, are subject to a range of new customs formalities and other regulatory requirements.  
These supports offer virtual training for staff on how to effectively complete a customs declaration and avoid the challenges.  
The Ministers also announced a new 2-day online specialised course for those directly involved in the agriculture import and export sector, created in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture. 
Speaking today, Minister Harris said: “Brexit has brought many challenges for businesses and we know there are many people were confronted by the harsh realities of it on January 1st when custom checks were implemented.
“This training is invaluable for companies who continue to or intend to do import or export goods in or out of the UK. Things have changed following Brexit, and it’s important for businesses and their staff to be aware of the changes, and to ensure that they know what to do when it comes to documentation and customs declarations.
Over 3,000 people have undertaken or are in the process of undertaking the “Clear Customs” training to date.  232 participants have enrolled in the module designed for the agriculture import and export sector.
Minister Collins added: “This is the one area of upskilling that should be a prerequisite for any businesses trading with the UK. There are places available – the training takes place online and is free of charge, so there is no excuse for not getting your business up to date” 
Clear Customs from Skillnet Ireland is an initiative to support Irish companies trading with and through Great Britain in developing the capacity to deal with new customs requirements arising from Brexit. Participants that successfully complete this free Clear Customs training are eligible for a QQI Level 6 Certificate in Customs Clearance Procedures awarded.

​County Tipperary Chamber   has today (18 February 2021) welcomed the newly published EU Trade Strategy. County Tipperary Chamber commends the Commission’s strong emphasis on empowering SMEs to trade internationally, along with the commitment to do more to enforce trade rules.
Speaking today, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot said,
“The strategic priorities of our own submission to the European Commission called for new EU trade agreements to prioritise SME-friendly access, therefore the SME-focus of today’s strategy is extremely welcome.
Trade and exports have never been more important for the Irish economy. We saw evidence of this throughout the last recession when exports helped to stabilise the economy while domestic demand remained weak. This remains the case, where over the past twelve months, exports have also supported the Irish economy through the negative economic impacts of COVID-19.
However, we must ensure that the commitments in the European strategy are delivered on at member-state level. In implementing the Commission’s new Trade Strategy, we call on Government to publish a National Action Plan for Trade. This plan should also include an awareness-building campaign to improve the capacity of SMEs to engage with EU Free Trade Agreements.
While large multi-national companies have proven to be extremely capable when it comes to global trade, the same cannot be said for smaller Irish businesses. While making up more than 99.7% of businesses, less than 6.3% of SMEs export anything, putting Ireland at the lowest level among all 36 OECD members. If we are to make positive changes, at a minimum, we must do more to improve SME trade within the Single Market and boost investment and capacity of programmes like the Enterprise Europe Network. Improving the trading performance of SMEs will be critical if we are to increase the productivity and competitiveness of these enterprises.
Beyond the Single Market, we must be more ambitious when it comes to global trade. From our experience with Brexit, we have a big opportunity to learn from these lessons. For example, to prepare Irish businesses for the UK’s exit from the EU, Government successfully introduced customs-support grants, rolled out national training programmes and promoted awareness raising campaigns on issues relating to trade with the UK. The same commitment and resources should be given to supporting Irish SMEs to learn to trade with other FTA partner countries, such as Japan and Canada.
Finally, the Commission’s continued commitment to rules-based global trade is welcome. As an open export-orientated economy, Ireland relies on strong rules-based structures which aim to limit the impacts of protectionism. In a post-Brexit environment, these global multilateral structures are even more important.”
 
Michelle Aylward 

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The Department of Agriculture Food and Marine have sent Chambers a document that includes information about SPS checks between UK and NI for products arriving into NI. Click here to download