Dear Chamber Member,

 

I hope you, your family and colleagues are keeping safe and well. 2022 is well and truly kicked off now, and I would like to wish you and your team every success for the year ahead.

 

Outstanding Contribution to Business

It is a pleasure to share the news with you today that Jim Woulfe, has been honoured with the Cork Chamber ‘Outstanding Contribution to Business Award’ recognising his devotion to Ireland’s leading indigenous sector. Jim has received messages of congratulations from An Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD, Minister Simon Coveney TD, John Higgins, Lead Partner at EY Cork who sponsor the award and we thank Jim for his many notable contributions in the agri-food industry and further afield, down through the years. View video messages HERE.

 

Infrastructure

This week, there was focus on some of the region’s key infrastructure projects, with both positive and disappointing outcomes. It emerged that a vital upgrade to the N25 Carrigtwohill to Midleton dual carriageway has not been given funding by Government, despite having been progressed through planning by Cork County Council. Decisions such as this display a lack of joined up thinking and short termism and have significant knock on implications on investment, housing development, job growth and business confidence. Government needs to reverse this decision as a matter of urgency to allow the project to proceed as planned. The significant multinational and indigenous businesses operating and investing on this corridor whether in the metropolitan area or wider southeast will take a dim view of this delay which appears to be at odds with the goals of Ireland 2040.

 

However, today we have the tremendous news of progress on the MacCurtain Street Public Transport Improvement Scheme. As well as advancing the City Council’s City Centre Movement Strategy, it is a cornerstone in the delivery of the Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy. The work will allow Cork city to thrive as CMATS intends and be the destination of choice for retail, hospitality, arts, education and business.

 

Since its inception we have advocated for a Cork based CMATS team to focus on delivery. Alongside the appointment of 23 additional team members to roll out bus connects in Cork, there is now every potential for CMATS to gain momentum. It is essential that many interventions, equivalent to this significant step at MacCurtain Street are replicated throughout the city region, creating exemplary multi modal infrastructure.

 

Representing You
We continue to advocate on your behalf, on these and other issues affecting business in our region, harnessing our local and national connections to represent your interests. We are actively engaging on local development issues as well as national policy developments. We are acutely aware of the pressures that the evolving restrictions have on our members and the wider trading environment, and I welcome your feedback on particular issues affecting your business.

 

Promoting You
We are looking ahead with optimism for the year ahead, with a focused schedule of activities planned. Our membership team is on hand to answer any queries you have which will help you to garner maximum value from your membership, whether that is to avail of promotional or networking opportunities, to give guidance on how we can support international growth plans or to avail of the training and upskilling services through our Cork Chamber Skillnet courses.

 

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