Tweet and greet as 100 small business owners meet in Birr

The second annual SME Community All-Ireland Tweet up, which took place in Birr last Friday, has garnered compliments from local TD Marcella Corcoran Kennedy. Deputy Corcoran Kennedy attended the event that saw some 100 of a group of thousands of Twitter users meet up in person at the County Arms Hotel. She praised the small business owners for their "positive and self-starting attitude" and said it is businesses like them that will get Ireland's economy back on track and provide sustainable employment into the future. "I was impressed by the diversity of businesses who took part in the event from jewellery designers to digitally based companies," Deputy Corcoran Kennedy said. "I was delighted to see local businesses also take part in the event who expressed their intention to make this an annual event which would be great potential for Birr and south Offaly," she continued. At the event Deputy Corcoran Kennedy highlighted the government initiatives available to help small businesses, which are part of the government's Action Plan for Jobs. "For instance a new business can avail of a seed capital scheme whereby if you start up and work full-time in your own company you can claim back the income tax you paid in the previous six years to invest in the company," she said. "Also, to encourage employment a company can avail of the Employers PRSEI Incentive Scheme whereby a company does not have to pay the employers portion of the PRSI contribution for 18 months." Deputy Corcoran Kennedy said everyone is aware of the acute financial realities that face Irish businesses today. However she said it's "refreshing" to see the tweeters who met up last Friday so determined to succeed.