Editorial: Worrying times for those in business

The number of businesses across County Tipperary which are being forced to close their doors at the present time, is very worrying indeed.

The expectation was that, having survived the problems which the Covid-19 pandemic posed, the country would recover sufficiently to allow business to flourish.

However, nobody predicted the war in Ukraine and the impact this would have on economies throughout the globe - Ireland included. Of course, the main reason for the difficulties is the energy crisis and the resultant increase in the cost of electricity.

Just this week, Deputy Michael Lowry highlighted in Dáil Éireann the impact the rising costs are having on one sector in particular - butchers. Fridges and freezers are essentials of the business but they are expensive necessities to run. And, they have to run twenty-four, seven without any break.

Businesses have proven incredibly resilient over the last four or five years and the latest kick in the teeth is a major affront to them and is really threatening to put them out of business. The larger ones will survive and will have the resources to absorb the costs and pass some on to the consumer, thereby contributing to inflation.

But, it is the smaller, locally run and locally based businesses who will suffer the most and who are under most threat. Already, we have seen a number of very prominent, long established businesses in Tipperary closing their doors - a sad day indeed for towns and villages, for the customers and of course for the proprietors.

Closing a business is a deeply personal decision which conjures up all sorts of emotions. There can be a sense of failure and a feeling that the traditions associated with the business have been sacrificed.

However, the challenges presented have been unprecedented and no business people should feel as though they have failed - external factors have simply been too great, and that’s the real tragedy.