Dear Chamber Member,

I hope you, your families and colleagues are keeping safe and well.

The publication of the Economic Recovery Plan this week has come not a moment too soon. Businesses have been struggling to plan ahead and to forecast, with any clarity, their financial and operating outlook. The plan is broad and encompasses a wide range of factors from business supports to investment in skills development and the commitment to suburban commuter rail in Cork.
 

The extension of the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme beyond 30 June 2021 to December 31 2021 is a welcome commitment by Government, as this has proven to be an important pillar to business through the turbulence of this pandemic. Inclusion of extension to the rates waiver to the end of September, CRSS to year end 2021 and the lower tourism VAT rate of 9% to the September 2022 are also welcome for those businesses that qualify. The Business Resumption Support Scheme due to be launched in September has yet to be defined, and if it is to deliver for the worst affected businesses, it will need to have carefully considered qualifying criteria – a factor which at times through this pandemic, has excluded those businesses most in need.
 
The inclusion of support for significant suburban commuter rail enhancement in Cork is an important acknowledgement of the role that sustainable transport will play in our recovery and as a countercyclical investment. This is a key element of Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy (CMATS) and it is positive to have this €185.4m inclusion in the recovery planning. This commuter line has been a long standing priority for our business community and it will enable improvement of service along existing and under-utilised corridors. It is discrete in nature, but will have huge benefits. Ultimately service must be so frequent as to render a timetable unnecessary. 

The piloting of live events, could prove to support and invigorate the arts, culture, sport, live entertainment and hospitality sectors, and in this we must also learn from neighbouring nations who are at more advanced stages of their reopening. We know now that we will be living with Covid for some time to come and must be determined to find solutions to allow our valuable industries to operate at a meaningful capacity. The supports outlined for the live entertainment sector must be enacted with urgency if we are to retain the talent and protect what has proven to be a vibrant industry for our nation.

While we continue to be highly engaged with representatives on matters relating to Covid supports and the opening of our economy, we are in parallel progressing on our commitment to enhancing a sustainable, inclusive and resilient city region. This month, we at Cork Chamber, were the first not-for-profit and among the first 43 companies to sign up to the new Business in the Community Elevate Pledge which promotes inclusion in the workplace. Through this pledge, we commit to measuring and recording the diversity profile of our workforce, taking concrete actions to improve diversity and inclusion and reporting on this on an ongoing basis. Together, with the other businesses taking part, we are committing to building inclusive workplaces that reflect all of our society. We are also running a survey on diversity, equality and inclusion and I would ask for your participation click <HERE>

I welcome you to contact me directly on 087-9471858 or by e-mail HERE to discuss any issues affecting your business. We are here to represent you.

Warm regards,

Conor Healy

CEO