There's a call on the government to give a cash injection to family-owned firms across the country.
The Family Business Network wants a National Recovery Fund created immediately to save jobs and rebuild the economy after Covid-19.
It says up until recent weeks, Irish firms employed over 700,000 people in every part of the country and generated over 50 per cent of Ireland's total GDP.
Family Business Network executive director, John McGraine says loans aren't the answer.
"We.re very appreciative of the schemes that the government and the various agencies like Enterprise Ireland and SBCI have put in place.
"But they're all loan schemes, they're all borrowing schemes, and we're very worried that firms who survive the coronavirus crisis might yet turn out to be killed by the level of death the have to shoulder.
"So we have to move on from loan schemes, and talk about giving cash to companies."
