Business Ireland Newsletter - May 2014

May 2014

Dublin Chamber

NEWS

Dublin Chamber of Commerce, 7 Clare Street, Dublin 2 | Tel: (01) 644 7200 | Fax: (01) 676 6043 | Web: www.dubchamber.ie

Local Election Manifesto

Following consultation with members, Dublin Chamber has formed its Local Election Manifesto.

F

ollowing consultation with members, Dublin Chamber has formed its Local Election Manifesto.

More and more, Dublin’s four local authorities rely on business as a source of funding. In fact, over half of all local government in Dublin is funded through taxes and charges to business. It follows, then, that business should have a strong voice when it comes to local issues.

By prioritising business issues in the 2014 Local Elections, candidates can help support growth and protect jobs in Dublin. In recent years, virtually all companies have faced an uphill battle to stay in business. In the midst of a fragile recovery, candidates

who act as champions for business will help ensure Dublin’s future as a capital city that is ready to grow.

Ensure fair rates for Dublin business Dublin Chamber has been a strong supporter of the residential property tax from the outset. We successfully lobbied for revenue from this tax to be retained at local authority level, in order to maintain essential local government services.

However, many local election candidates have now promised a giveaway reduction in property tax as soon as it is transferred locally. Reducing the domestic contribution to local authorities is likely to mean a hike in charges to business.

Businesses can no longer be used to pay for funding gaps in local authority budgets. Any reduction in the local property tax should be matched by a commensurate reduction in commercial rates.

Don’t leave businesses to foot the bill for water According to the latest report from the National Competitiveness Council, Ireland is one of the most expensive locations for water out of sixteen benchmarked countries.

The establishment of Irish Water is an opportunity to provide a world-class, competitively-priced water and waste water system.

However, business must not be made to pick up the bill for decades of underinvestment

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Ireland was ranked the fifth most expensive location for industrial water by the NCC.

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The Chamber continues to lobby hard to ensure that water prices will not increase for businesses in Dublin.

Several meetings have been held with Irish Water, the Department of the Environment, and relevant consultants. The Chamber is seeking to ensure certainty of price and supply for all businesses and is calling for Government to freeze current commercial water prices for ten years.

a a a in water. Certainty and stability should be the top priorities in determining the future price of water. Dublin Chamber has asked local election candidates to pledge that the price of water will not increase for business in the next ten years.

The lack of head-room for growth in Dublin is also a major concern. Dublin’s population is forecast to grow, and yet about 99 per cent of the city’s existing water capacity is already being used. Investment is required urgently and every effort should be made to support measures such as the Dublin Water Supply project to ensure Dubliners have an adequate water supply.

Drive joined-up thinking for a successful Dublin Dublin must assert its position as a global city that is open for business. The

Development Plan from each local authority should be pro-growth, with particular emphasis on the critical issues of availability of office space, tourism and better local government.

Vacancy rates for top quality (‘Grade A’) office space in prime Dublin city locations are currently at a low of 3.2 per cent. In order to secure further investment in the city, companies must have easy access to office space, and local election candidates can play their part by promoting measures to ensure that further office space is built.

Recent opportunities for stronger local government have been missed, but there is still strong potential to create more joined-up thinking in the city. In the context of recent reform of local government, all candidates should have proposals for

The establishment of Irish Water is an opportunity to provide a world-class, competitivelypriced water and waste water system. However, business must not be made to pick up the bill for decades of underinvestment in water.

how to improve the system.

Candidates should work to make our city an attractive location for visitors. More government funding is required to ensure this.

Bodies such as the Grow Dublin Tourism Alliance are vital to ensuring that Dublin is marketed effectively overseas. The new ‘Destination Dublin’ tourism strategy is an opportunity for Dublin to develop and promote its tourist attractions, and the initiative should be supported by all candidates.

The Destination Dublin strategy was put together by a taskforce which included Dublin Chamber. The strategy puts forward a plan to increase the number of tourists coming to Dublin by 60 per cent by 2020. The Chamber will be working to ensure that this plan is effectively implemented.

Dublin Chamber of Commerce, 7 Clare Street, Dublin 2 | Tel: (01) 644 7200 | Fax: (01) 676 6043 | Web: www.dubchamber.ie

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Members out and about at some of the events held by Dublin Chamber so far in 2014.

Aongus Hegarty, Dell EMEA with Eugene Bent, Dublin Chamber of Commerce at a Leaders Series event.

Gina Quin, Dublin Chamber of Commerce with Dr Joseph Reger and Regina Moran Fujitsu pictured at a Smart Series event.

Dublin Chamber of Commerce Dinner in Camera event: Gabriel D’Arcy, Bord na Mona; Martin Murphy, Gina Quin, Dublin Chamber of Commerce; and Brendan Jennings, Deloitte.

Paul Hallam, PM Group; Marie Donnelly, the European Commission; and Aebhric McGibney, Dublin Chamber of Commerce at the Green Economy Forum.

Business Approach to Tackling Youth Unemployment: Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton TD, Gina Quin, Martin Murphy, Dublin Chamber of Commerce; with Johnny Friel and Megan Clerkin from the Ballymun Pilot Youth Guarantee Scheme Project.

International Women’s Day Event: Joanne Hession, QED Training; Karen Brown, Karora Cosmetics; Louise Phelan, PayPal; and Anne Sheehan, Vodafone.

Catherine Day, Secretary General, European Commission, Gina Quin, CEO, Dublin Chamber of Commerce, and Minister of State Brian Hayes.

Dublin Chamber AGM 2014 From top left, Rickard Mills, Colm McDonnell, Derry Gray, Liam Kavanagh, Brendan Foster, Ronan Harris, Martin Murphy and Greg Clarke, with Gina Quin.

Dublin Chamber of Commerce, 7 Clare Street, Dublin 2 | Tel: (01) 644 7200 | Fax: (01) 676 6043 | Web: www.dubchamber.ie

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Influencing The latest quarterly survey is now live. The survey allows the Chamber to gauge current trading conditions for companies in Dublin, and to help us identify current key business issues which we can act upon. All members are encouraged to fill out the survey each quarter to ensure your voice is heard.

Activating Dublin has started the process of recruiting a Commissioner for start-ups. The commissioner will have strategic responsibility for maximising the potential of Dublin’s tech cluster.

The creation of the new role follows the publication of the #bestplacetostart report in August 2013.

The Chamber is working hard to ensure that 80 per cent of the revenue from local property tax is retained and used locally – as previously promised

by Government.

The Chamber worked with Chambers Ireland to prepare a policy paper on Public Procurement.

The Chamber has also worked to ensure that members’ views were represented in a submission on the planning application process.

Q1 2013

Media coverage:

Key media hits:

21 14 per cent

A Budget 2015 Taskforce, chaired by Brendan Foster, and including a number of other Council members, has been set up.

A debate with three European election candidates – Brian Hayes, Emer Costello and Mary Fitzpatrick – was held in the Chamber in early April.

The formation of the Chamber’s Budget 2015 submission is already well underway.

Since late 2013, numerous meetings have taken place with key contacts within Government in a bid to secure the introduction of business-friendly measures. Our Budget submission will be made in late May/early June.

A concerted campaign was carried out to try and ensure that a plebiscite was held on whether Dublin should get a Directly Elected Mayor. This included a strong media campaign which highlighted the various benefits that a mayor with real power would have brought to the Greater Dublin Area.

A lobbying campaign continues to ensure fair commercial rates which will promote employment and reduce business costs.

Q1 2014

In early April we held a very constructive meeting with the National Transport Authority, following the publication of the Integrated Implementation Plan 2013-2018. This provided the Chamber with an opportunity to provide feedback on the report and to put forward the views of our members on Dublin’s short, medium and long-term infrastructure needs.

per cent

The Q1 edition of Business Ireland was published in early April. The magazine features a new look and an improved layout, with further enhancements planned for upcoming issues.

Twitter followers:

24 per cent

Dublin Chamber of Commerce, 7 Clare Street, Dublin 2 | Tel: (01) 644 7200 | Fax: (01) 676 6043 | Web: www.dubchamber.ie