In this week’s programme Chris Ashmore looks at an award winning social enterprise business, plus calls by Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association on the Government to strengthen the Defamation Amendment Bill to provide meaningful protections for small businesses and citizens against costly and often unjustified defamation claims.
First up, Chris speaks with Helen Nolan, Chief Executive of Spraoi agus Sport which is based in Carndonagh. It has numerous social enterprises running, and is worth an estimated €2 million to the local economy. This year it will celebrate its 15th anniversary.
In the second part, Chris gets the thoughts of Neil McDonnell, Chief Executive of ISME.
ISME say current defamation laws are making life extremely challenging for SMEs, particularly in the retail and hospitality sectors, where businesses face an increasing volume of defamation threats and cases. Irish courts handle more defamation cases than the entire UK, despite Ireland having a population twelve times smaller. ISME claims that many retailers and SMEs cannot afford to fight defamation cases.
McDonnell said: “Ireland’s defamation laws are not fit for purpose. SMEs are being forced to settle cases they should never have faced in the first place, simply to avoid exorbitant legal costs…The Government must introduce stronger protections to prevent abuse of the system and to safeguard SME livelihoods.”
You can hear the full programme here:
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