This week, the CEO’s of the Chambers Ireland network, led by Ian Talbot met with some 17 representatives of the Fine Gael parliamentary party, led by Chair Richard Bruton and organised by Alan Dillon TD.
This session covered in great detail the economic impacts of Covid & Brexit on business community, owners and employees. Case studies where presented of businesses who have lost significant trade as a result of closure, inability to avail of the CRSS supports and ongoing restrictions. We also focused in on the need to address vacancy in our Town Centres.
From the Tourism & Hospitality sector we relayed first-hand the experiences of our members on the supports (both positive & negative) with feedback on what it’s expected will be needed for businesses in this sector to stay afloat over the next 2-3 years and until some market normality may begin to return, aligned to the recovery of international air travel. One in 10 jobs in Ireland are in Tourism & Hospitality, 70% of these jobs are outside Dublin, so this dialogue is critically important to the regions, especially in Meath where we are recognised as a tourism, cultural and natural heritage hotspot and the World’s Best Food Destination in 2019.
Next month County Meath Chamber have scheduled a meeting with Colm Markey MEP to engage on the current challenges within the Meath business community and to get an insight into available European funding opportunities which exist to build sustainability and growth. If you are interested in attending the meeting let us know by email to info@countymeathchamber.ie