Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Ireland While our event today will touch on issues relating both to SMEs and larger corporate businesses, I will focus my remarks on the SME sector. We are all aware of the enormous impact COVID-19 has had on our societies and our economies.
SMEs have certainly not been spared, particularly with many businesses having to close their doors to support the public health response to the pandemic. Policymakers have acted to support vulnerable businesses and, thankfully, the pandemic has not yet been characterised by widespread company failures, owing to the unprecedented level of direct fiscal support and creditor forbearance that is in the system.