Fine Gael conference hears views of businesses ahead of Budget 2026

The role of small and medium sized businesses and challenges facing them ahead of Budget 2026 is the focus of a major conference this weekend, as Fine Gael holds its fourth Small Business and Enterprise Conference at SETU, Carlow today (Saturday).

Ministers Paschal Donohoe, Peter Burke and Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, along with prominent figures in enterprise and industry, are engaging with business owners and employers, hearing what they require to ensure continued growth and development.

The Fine Gael Women’s Network (FGWN) will also hold its first conference and AGM today in Carlow. The FGWN has a significant impact in shaping policy both at a local and national level, while also having a commitment to achieving gender equality by motivating and supporting women to participate in politics.

The SME sector is the backbone of the Irish economy, employing over two-thirds of workers in the country. There are in the region of 20,000 restaurants, pubs and hotels across the country. They employ 191,000 people. It is essential that these businesses are given certainty during the turbulent period ahead.

Acknowledging the challenges the SME sector is facing to deal with rising labour costs and energy bills, a reduction in the VAT rate for vital community focused businesses will be on the agenda, along with discussions about how a reduction would protect jobs and keep the main streets in our towns and villages alive.

Fine Gael is already prioritising the needs of our small family businesses by establishing the Small Business Unit within the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, launching the Competitiveness and Productivity Action Plan and creating the National Enterprise Hub, a new one-stop-shop to make it easier for businesses to access supports.

Today’s conference affords businesses and employers an opportunity to engage directly with key Ministers in advance of the Budget to outline their concerns and asks.

Minister Paschal Donohoe said: ‘Our economy is doing well and our businesses, of all sizes, are central to that. Our labour market is strong, with record high employment and more people than ever at work, at 2.8 million people. Tens of thousands of jobs have been added already this year, making a real difference to the lives of many.

“Our tax system contains a number of measures aimed at supporting investment and enabling businesses to remain competitive and dynamic in a changing world; measures designed to improve cash flow, encourage start-ups and reward innovation.

“Ensuring the voices of our business owners and industry generally are heard is key to continuing to provide the supports that are needed to enable our SMEs to thrive. The Fine Gael Small Business and Enterprise Forum allows for such engagement and is an important event on the business landscape.”

Minister Peter Burke said: “At this critical juncture in the budgetary process, it is essential that we listen to our business community.  These enterprises not only create the jobs that sustain local communities, but also generate the vital tax revenues that fund our public services — from hospitals and schools to the key supports and interventions we all depend on.

“We must never take their contribution for granted. That’s why Fine Gael remains firmly committed to engaging with and supporting the enterprise sector, recognising its central role in driving economic growth and maintaining the services that matter most to people.”

Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said: “Our small and medium enterprises are at the heart of every community, driving innovation and sustaining local economies. Today’s conference is an important opportunity for us in Fine Gael to hear directly from them ahead of Budget 2026. I am especially pleased that we are having a panel on innovation and healthcare with the Fine Gael Women’s Network and look forward to discussing the ways we are working to ensure a consistent, high quality level of service across our healthcare service.”

Kathryn Lynch, Chair of the Fine Gael Small Business and Enterprise Council, said: “Never has there been a more important time to support indigenous Irish SMEs to grow and thrive, in a turbulent world. Our SMEs support the economic and social fabric of every town and village in Ireland and we have an opportunity on Saturday to directly engage with the key policy makers on the issues and priorities which impact them most directly. With the publication of the Action Plan on Competitiveness and Productivity and just over a week out from Budget ‘26, we have a lot to talk about. We are lucky in Ireland, and with Fine Gael, to have the forum and commitment to that direct engagement, reflecting the importance of the SME sector.”

Rebecca Molloy, Chair Fine Gael Women’s Network added: “The Fine Gael Women’s Network is proud to host our first ever conference, bringing together women from across the party to help shape Ireland’s future through leadership, inclusion, innovation, and equitable representation. We live in an unfinished democracy and politics needs women at every level—by accelerating gender balance in visible roles of influence, we can strengthen our party and ensure women’s voices are present in all decision-making.”