Press Release on Taoiseach Brian Cowen’s visit Friday 8th April 2010
Dundalk Chamber hosted a business consultation with the Taoiseach and Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern T.D. last Friday afternoon and tabled 5 short presentations which are expanded on in the Appendix. This followed from a meeting the previous week with John Gormley focused solely on Commercial Rates.
A key insight emerged, when he revealed that he and the cabinet were bringing the Micro economy up the agenda right now, given that the Macro economic imperatives, post-NAMA, have been dealt with structurally. This is a strong signal for indigenous companies and Regions, who have been somewhat dismayed by the erosion of demand, margins and are struggling to survive.
The chambers overall message was to reinforce that Dundalk simply had to retain what businesses remain standing, that clear signals of requisite changes be made to investors, to create confidence. The principal thrust of all 5 presentations was that all business costs must be “right-sized” as soon as possible, that this Border region should claim a fiscal incentive to ensure it was more attractive as an investment location.
Brian Cowen warmed to a self-help initiative in Energy management and that the failure of Regulation to bring electricity prices down was well documented. He also found the Chamber suggestion for a x-border Economic Development Zone interesting and worth pursuing, given that it would not offend EU state-aid legislation. He also signalled that it may be possible for Local Authorities to reserve a proportion of “state” contracts for award to local companies, given that lower labour costs in NI make the difference between award and failure.
The chamber Task Force have been asked to expand on some of their initiatives. As an example, it was obvious that the discrimination in pricing at Supply point for Consumer & Industrial goods was unknown to him and that smuggling and contrabrand activities should be dimensioned and actions sought; Dundalk Chamber continues to position its belief that we must see Finance led price-points in VAT, VRT, Duty & Excise, align more closely with the adjacent jurisdiction, if we are to continue to stem leach of consumer and industrial spend.
Dialogue has been engaged constructively, it remains for this Chamber to contribute to the dialogue and engineer the changes that will improve our regional economy.
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Press release ends
For further information call Bill Tosh on 042 9336343 or email bill@dundalk.ie
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