Jobs Committee to hear from Irish Venture Capital Association and Forfás on access to finance for SMEs

The schedule for tomorrow’s meeting is:

1.45pm Session A:
Representatives from the Irish Venture Capital Association;

2.30pm Session B:
Representatives from Forfás;

3.15 pm - COM(2014)221 Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on establishing a European Platform to enhance cooperation in the prevention and deterrence of undeclared work. Officials from the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation will be in attendance to assist the Committee in its further scrutiny of this EU proposal, in particular to consider the 'Principle of Subsidiarity', as provided in the Lisbon Treaty.

Committee Vice Chairman John Lyons TD said: “As part of our on-going hearings, we’re looking forward to getting the insights of the Irish Venture Capital Association and Forfás on the access to finance of SMEs.

“Forfás is Ireland’s policy advisory board for enterprise, trade, science, technology and innovation. Given its role in providing independent and rigorous research, advice and support in the areas of enterprise and science policy, its perspective on the funding environment for SMEs should be very informative. The Irish Venture Capital Association’s full members are venture capital firms which provide equity funding to growing unquoted companies. As the organisation representing venture capital in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, it has a unique insight into the needs of growing firms seeking finance to expand.

“Our Committee has identified the availability of funding and supports for small and medium sized businesses as a key priority in national efforts to achieve economic recovery. The small and medium sized enterprise sectors are integral and important elements of our economy and if we are serious about our indigenous businesses we need to encourage and help create the best environment for them to operate in.”

This meeting will start at 1.30pm on Tuesday, 26th May 2014 in Committee Room 2.

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Committee Membership

Deputies: Dara Calleary (FF), Áine Collins (FG), Michael Conaghan (LAB) Damien English (FG) (Chairman), Mick Wallace (IND), Seán Kyne (FG), Anthony Lawlor (FG), John Lyons (LAB) (Vice-Chairman), Peadar Tóibín (SF).

Senators: Deirdre Clune (FG), David Cullinane (SF), John Kelly (LAB), Michael Mullins (FG), Feargal Quinn (Ind), Mary White (FF).