89 minute read
Chambers Catch Up
A ROUND-UP OF ALL THE NEWS AND EVENTS FROM THE CHAMBER NETWORK NATIONWIDE
CHAMBERS NEWS
CHAMBER COMMENT
“A more appropriate and effective system of supporting businesses in the longer term will need to be devised early in the New Year. The rolling threat of a cliff-edge cut-off to supports in place for employers must end in 2022.”
Ian Talbot, Chief Executive, Chambers Ireland on Covid-19 supports to businesses
Billy Walsh, Head Coach of USA Boxing (centre) with Lorcan Kinsella, Vice President, and Emma Dunphy, acting CEO, County Wexford Chamber
Boxing clever in Wexford
World-champion boxing coach Billy Walsh was guest speaker at the Wexford County Chamber President’s Lunch, which was attended by business leaders from across the county in November. The theme of newly appointed Chamber President Brendan Crowley’s message was team spirit and Walsh spoke about five key lessons in relation to Olympic boxing success, one of which was about the need to get the culture right. “By fostering that pro-Wexford team spirit where agencies, businesses and individuals work to support each other, we can become a leading light as a sustainable, vibrant and productive economic area that supports business growth and employment,” said Crowley, who is Managing Director of Wexford Bus.
Sean Farrell, President, Dundalk Chamber
Budget briefing success in Dundalk
Dundalk Chamber held its annual Budget Breakfast on Zoom on 13 October. Sponsored by PayPal, the event was a huge success with over 140 local businesses logged on to the event. Attendees from financial and professional services and the wider business community came out early to hear speaker Nathan Doherty, Director, Tax & Law at Ernst & Young, unravel the complexities of Budget 2022. According to Sean Farrell, President, Dundalk Chamber, Doherty gave an excellent overview of the submissions made by organisations and the actual Budget itself.
CHAMBERS NEWS
Rosemary O’ Driscoll, WWETB, Edmond Connolly, SERSF, Oren Byrne, D&WW Chamber and Jason Ryan, Dungarvan College
Tackling the workforce shortage
Practical and collaborative solutions to the workforce and skills shortage in Co Waterford were outlined to large employers at a recent Dungarvan & West Waterford (D&WW) Chamber industry lunch. The Chamber is working with partners to future-proof employment for the area. At the lunch event, Waterford and Wexford Education and Training Board outlined the education pathways offered in Dungarvan College and how the college proactively connects with local employers. South East Regional Skills Forum summarised the skills and training on offer to businesses and D&WW Chamber updated attendees on the multi-agency Tailored Employment Initiative.
Sustainability push from DLR Chamber
In November, Dún Laoghaire Rathdown (DLR) Chamber introduced the Sustainability Leaders Programme, consisting of live mentoring and support workshops focused on providing real-world industry examples and peer-to-peer learning opportunities. Funded by Skillnet Ireland, the programme has the dual target of developing trainee skills at an individual level and delivering tangible impacts at organisational level. The workshops cover understanding the UN Sustainability Development Goals, identifying sustainability priorities, defining sustainability goals and integrating sustainability into an organisation’s way of doing business. DLR Chamber also launched its ‘Sustainability 101 and Climate Strategy Training Programme 2022’ last November.
Water conservation leadership
Shannon, Co Clare is the second town in Ireland to take part in Irish Water’s Sustainable Water Towns Initiative in partnership with Chambers Ireland. Irish Water invited businesses to attend a Shannon Chamber online masterclass in October entitled ‘Water Conservation for Business’. Those taking part were asked to take the ‘Water Conversation Pledge’, where they pledged to become water conservation champions, made a commitment to learn to identify and compare water waste or use water-efficient devices. “Enabling companies to monitor and reduce their water consumption is a very positive move both towards lowering operating costs and helping the environment,” said Helen Downes, CEO, Shannon Chamber.
Helen Downes, CEO, Shannon Chamber and Duane O’Brien, Regional Operations Lead for Irish Water
CHAMBERS NEWS
Zooming in on breakfast briefings
Johanna Murphy, President, Cobh & Harbour Chamber and Cormac Gebruers, Head of the National Maritime College of Ireland
Cobh & Harbour Chamber recently wrapped up a successful Breakfast Briefing Series for 2021, which was sponsored by the Port of Cork. Over 12 months, both members and non-members participated in the online series of thought leadership events. Highlights included a leadership panel event entitled ‘Cork Harbour – An International Energy Hub’ and ‘Marketing in the New Now’ and ‘Pandemic Funding Supports’ workshops. Developers of the Covid-19 vaccine Pfizer Ireland gave a presentation on operations in Ringaskiddy and Singapore in September and Head of the National Maritime College of Ireland Cormac Gebruers completed the series last October.
CHAMBER CAPTION
Mary McCarthy, Director, and Dyane Hanrahan, Marketing & Communications Manager, Crawford Art Gallery, which was named as Cork’s overall Digital Marketing Legend 2021 at the Cork Digital Marketing Awards held by Cork Chamber in October CHAMBER COMMENT
“This announcement marks a very positive step towards the regularisation of thousands of migrants who add immense value to our economy, local communities and society as a whole.”
Ian Talbot, Chief Executive, Chambers Ireland on the scheme to regularise the undocumented
North Runway consultation welcomed
Fingal Chamber has welcomed the Aircraft Noise Competent Authority’s 14-week public consultation process regarding nighttime restrictions on Dublin Airport’s new North Runway. Fingal Chamber CEO Anthony Cooney said that now, more than ever, it is critically important that the right decision is taken to enable Dublin Airport the operational flexibility to grow so that local and national businesses can build resilience and flourish. “Dublin Airport is the economic engine of Fingal, supporting more than 20,000 direct jobs on its campus. It is Ireland’s main international gateway providing vital connectivity across the globe, supporting Irish trade, tourism, and foreign direct investment,” he said.
CHAMBER CEO Q&A
Onwards and upwards
InBusiness caught up with Caroline Hofman, who took over as CEO of Laois Chamber in July 2021 as the youngest Chamber CEO in the country.
Q: How have things been going since your appointment?
A: The pandemic has shown the resilience and strength of businesses throughout Laois and the Chamber has continued to grow our membership since its re-establishment in 2019. We have continued to hold our monthly networking events, albeit online, but these have been really positive. We also held a virtual Budget 2022 event in collaboration with County Tipperary Chamber which was a great success. In November, we launched a Love Laois 2022 calendar in collaboration with Laois County Council and Laois Tourism, with all proceeds being donated to SOSAD Laois Branch.
Q: What is the current business sentiment and outlook in Laois?
A: I think the pandemic has made people become more aware of the fantastic businesses that we have here on our doorstep and the wonderful tourist attractions that Laois has to offer. It has also encouraged people to shop locally and support local businesses. I would hope that this continues on an upward trajectory into 2022.
Q: Any developments in your region that
should stimulate business growth? A: It was great to see the formal establishment of the Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest in October and to see plans for the Technological University of the SouthEast being established in 2022. Laois is the ideal location for business, and with so many third-level campuses located within a short distance of the county, we have access to an excellent pool of talent. It has also been encouraging to see continued building and expansion of companies in J17
Caroline Hofman, CEO, Laois Chamber
National Enterprise Park in Portlaoise and other sites throughout the county.
We have excellent remote working facilities in the county, with a remote working hub located in every town in Laois. The benefits of using these hubs are far-reaching; they are increasing footfall in our towns, which in turn positively impacts retailers and local businesses.
Q: What are your priorities as CEO going into 2022?
A: I will continue lobbying on behalf of our members in all sectors on various issues and also ensure the correct Government supports are in place for businesses that have been most impacted by the pandemic.
I am eager to see continued foreign direct investment in Laois and to build upon the recent establishment of IDA Ireland client companies N’Ware Technologies and Greenfield Global with further announcements of this scale.
We are planning to hold the Laois Jobs Fair again in 2022, following the success of the February 2020 event which attracted 2,500 attendees. It is a fantastic opportunity to showcase businesses throughout Laois. We also have plans to hold our inaugural Laois Chamber Business Awards in October 2022.
CHAMBER FEATURE
COP26
–unfinished business
The 26th Conference of the Parties in November was a chance to evaluate the extent to which countries are taking the actions needed to limit global warming by 1.5°C. Michaela Reilly, Policy and Research Executive at Chambers Ireland, discusses next steps.
After 12 days of hard-fought negotiations, the finalised Glasgow Climate Pact provides rules for a global carbon market and financial commitments to help countries to continue to adapt to climate change. With some good wins and some great losses, the most notable takeaways include that the world is definitely not on track to limit the increase in global temperature to 1.5°C on the basis of national plans submitted to date.
In a scenario where all national climate pledges announced to date are achieved in full and on time, the International Energy Agency estimates that global warming could be kept to 1.8°C. However, the lack of firm plans for 2030 means the actual increase could be 2.4°C.
Nonetheless, this still represents progress since Paris, where the world was heading for 3°C to 4°C of warming, and COP26 should be seen as part of that ongoing process that started nearly 30 years ago and now plans to continue indefinitely to tackle climate change.
WHERE DOES THIS LEAVE THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY?
Since the Paris Agreement, there has been a marked shift from ‘top-down’ reliance on governments taking the lead to ‘bottom-up’ action by businesses and non-governmental organisations. This was notable as beyond the political negotiations, the Glasgow gathering attracted many of the world’s top CEOs and leaders across industries, including finance, construction, aviation, agriculture, renewable energy and infrastructure.
Business groups, including the International Chamber of Commerce, joined climate activists in expressing frustration that national governments were not moving aggressively enough to tackle climate change, after India and China posed last-minute objections halting a
commitment to end coal use and watered down the COP26 final agreement.
Nonetheless, the raft of initiatives agreed during the summit did lead to some applaud. These included the ‘Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero’, the ‘H2Zero’ pledge to accelerate the use of decarbonised hydrogen, the ‘Glasgow Breakthroughs’ on technology innovation, and the establishment of a new International Sustainability Standards Board globally.
Though the business community may have been looking for tangible solutions, for now, it will have to settle for a new Climate Pact that merely encourages countries to do much more to curb climate-warming carbon emissions. The ‘bottom-up’ approach will need to continue.
One of the biggest messages businesses can take from the summit is that they should continue to reassess business strategies and carbon footprints to reap rewards, or lag and risk losses.
CHAMBER FEATURE
The Competitiveness Playbook
Michaela Reilly, Policy and Research Executive at Chambers Ireland, discusses the competitiveness playbook for Ireland and where we can go from here. Ireland remains a highly competitive economy by international standards, according to the latest European Semester Report. It also scores well on major World Bank and World Economic Forum competitiveness indicators, ranking among the highest economies across the globe. Ireland’s competitive and business-friendly environment can be attributed to several factors, including its highly educated and talented labour market; competitive corporation tax regime; proximity to mainland Europe and North America; common law judicial system; membership of the EU; and English as its main working language. Collectively, these make up the competitiveness playbook for Ireland. If we look at productivity, growth in this area continues to be strong. The foreign-owned multinational corporation (MNC) sector is the major driver of this, greatly improving overall competitiveness of the economy. Ireland’s main exporting industries – pharmaceuticals and electronics – are not in areas that would traditionally have been associated with Irish comparative advantages, but rather have emerged in the past number of decades stemming from foreign direct investment (FDI) in hightechnology firms where increasing returns are possible. International services also make an important contribution with over 56% of employment in foreign-owned enterprises in service jobs. This represents an increase of two-thirds in the share of employment within MNC service companies in Ireland over the past decade. With that being said, there are areas in this playbook that require reforms.
CHAMBER FEATURE
Facing the challenges
The National Competitiveness and Productivity Council (NCPC) recently published ‘Ireland’s Competitiveness Challenge’ report highlighting the need for government to focus on ensuring the creation of a dynamic business environment that will increase the productivity of indigenous companies while progressing sustainable and inclusive business policies. Taking a closer look at the competitiveness challenges will enable the creation of far more effective strategies to counteract them.
Inclusivity issue – Although improving, Ireland must address labour shortages by facilitating the access of women and vulnerable groups to the labour market, which remain relatively low. It is essential that everyone has the right to equal access to employment, training and development. A national flexible working policy is one of a number of ways that this can be addressed to ensure wider participation in the workplace among women, carers, people with disabilities and all those who experience difficulty in accessing the workplace.
SME access to finance– The cost of credit for SMEs remains a concern for competitiveness. For smaller new loans to non-financial corporations (< €1m), Irish interest rates are the highest in the euro area. Weak competition in the market for SME loans is one of the main reasons for the high interest rates. Working capital also remains the most common reason for credit applications among SMEs and micro enterprises. This implies that high interest rates are likely to be deterring smaller firms, as well as those dependent on local funding sources, from applying for loans.
Productivity gap – The most recent European Semester report for Ireland outlines that high productivity is based on the performance of a small number of MNCs, concentrated in a few sectors, which invest large amounts in research and development. Micro enterprises can also be included in this picture of positive productivity. The NCPC, however, warns that Ireland’s economy is volatile because of this concentration of the performance of a small number of MNCs in a small number of sectors.
The middle-ground SMEs have serious productivity issues, which is a cause for concern given that they make up almost 99% of active enterprises but only account for 36.6% of value added to the economy. A multitude of factors affect this, including skills and human capital, the capital stock of SMEs, access to markets, infrastructure, networks and clusters, the regulatory environment and FDI.
Moreover, Irish SMEs are relatively unproductive because they do not form part of international value chains. Ireland has one of the lowest ratios of exporting SMEs in the EU – whereas SMEs that supply MNCs, either domestically or internationally, tend to be more productive, more innovative, increasingly likely to invest in their businesses, and so become more competitive relative to their peers that focus solely on the domestic market.
Addressing this productivity gap and becoming more internationally focused through value-chain participation will provide huge opportunities for SMEs. This could be achieved through a targeted Action Plan for Trade for SMEs and grants to complement existing initiatives by Local Enterprise Offices.
This diversification will lead to a greater diffusion of innovation, in addition to making our non-trading sectors more efficient as a result of utilising more productive inputs, and therefore help to make the economy less vulnerable to sector-specific shocks.
Digital skills shortage – The SME cohort also underperforms in digital skills, which has a negative impact on the advancement of the wider digital agenda. Digital skills are now as essential as basic numeracy and literacy skills – every business, every employee, needs digital skills enablement.
Covid-19 has fundamentally restructured the world of work and accelerated the digital transformation. The challenge for Ireland is to restructure its learning model to address these challenges and use the opportunity to gain competitive advantage over European and global competitors.
Ireland is currently in a strong position to capitalise on the knowledge economy and accelerate the adoption of digital skills to boost SME productivity. Increasing the share of funding dedicated to training for those in employment and financial support to workers undertaking postgraduate courses would be an excellent starting point.
Building on the competitiveness playbook
Ireland has enjoyed robust economic growth over the past number of years, but challenges remain. We also cannot ignore the fact that Brexit and the pandemic are still risks to the economy, as is the strong dependence on a single trading partner.
Completing reforms in areas such as access to finance for SMEs, increasing diversity and inclusion across sectors, and reducing regional disparities will help underpin Ireland’s continued economic growth. Closing employmentrelated skills gaps and encouraging key social, environmental and productive investment could further provide the foundations for sustainable and inclusive growth in the years ahead. The wider issue of reducing public and private debt, as well as broadening the tax base, would also increase the economy’s resilience to external shocks.
Though there is ample room for improvement, the largely competitive business environment in Ireland created over the past number of decades should act as a role model for other economies around the world.
CHAMBER FEATURE
Optimism for 2020
November saw the release of the results for the Eurochambres Economic Survey for 2022, which provides a forecast of what entrepreneurs in Europe expect moving into the New Year.
Eurochambres (the Association of European Chambers of Commerce and Industry) represents over 20 million enterprises in Europe –98% of which are SMEs – through 45 national members and a European network of 1,700 regional and local Chambers. It has been conducting economic surveys continuously since 2002. The largest of its kind in Europe, the Eurochambres Economic Survey (EES) 2022 was based on the contribution of 52,000 companies and predicts growth across the EU this year. There has been a strong correlation between previous EES surveys and EU-level GDP growth. Although optimistic, the data also illustrates significant economic constraints that may limit growth this year. The lack “Export growth of skilled workers, access to as a source of affordable energy, and increasing national revenue labour costs are all cited as issues remains muted, that will present a challenge for though this is largely related to the low number of SMEs which engage in international European businesses. For businesses In Ireland, Covid-19 remains a major issue with supply chain disruption a concern for 59% of respondents. trade.” “Almost half of firms fear that further cycles of lockdown measures will negatively impact their growth, while 48% of respondents have recognised that shifts in consumer behaviour have created uncertainties for their businesses,” said Ian Talbot, Chief Executive of Chambers Ireland, which managed the collection of data in Ireland.
GENERAL BUSINESS SENTIMENT
The survey shows that general business confidence here is high with 54% of firms expecting the business environment to be favourable in 2022, while only one in eight expects it to disimprove relative to 2021.
According to Talbot, the data showed that “business sentiment has bounced back to preCovid levels of positivity” with 80% of firms seeing domestic sales volumes either holding steady or improving.
On employment, 41% of respondents in Ireland foresee increasing employment levels in 2022, while 56% see their businesses holding steady at current levels. Additionally, with a surge in investments to accommodate business changes related to Covid-19, 56% of businesses expected to continue with current levels of investment into 2022, while another third expects to increase investment.
“Export growth as a source of national revenue remains muted, though this is largely related to the low number of SMEs which engage in international trade,” Talbot said. Of those currently trading internationally, 54% expect revenue will increase in 2022, with only 20% expecting it to decrease.
“The principle challenges to the Irish economy in 2022 are likely to mirror what Eurochambres has revealed at the European level. The chief concern is labour costs with two thirds of businesses foreseeing wage pressures increasing in 2022. Next is skills, with 52% of businesses identifying the shortage of skilled workers as a major challenge. The third factor our members highlighted is affordable access to energy and raw materials.”
CHAMBER FEATURE
All-island leadership
Left to right: First Minister Paul Givan; Ian Talbot, Chief Executive, Chambers Ireland, Ann McGregor, Chief Executive, NI Chamber, An Taoiseach Micheál Martin; Martin Pibworth, Group Energy and Commercial Director, SEE, Paul Murnaghan, President, NI Chamber and Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill. A recent joint Chamber event focused on collaboratively addressing climate change featured political and business leaders from across the island of Ireland.
Ahead of COP26, Chambers Ireland and the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NI Chamber), in partnership with SSE Airtricity, hosted an all-island climate change event in October.
The political leaders who took part included Taoiseach Micheál Martin, First Minister Paul Givan and Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill. A panel of business leaders from across the island also discussed what global agreement on climate action means for companies across the island and highlighted the ‘green’ opportunities which exist for local firms.
“There is no more significant and common concern for us on this island, and across these islands, than meeting the generational challenge of climate change,” the Taoiseach said. “To be fully effective on climate action we need joined-up policy approaches and coordinated investment on a crossborder basis.”
Ian Talbot, Chief Executive of Chambers Ireland, said tackling the challenges presented by climate change will help to drive innovation and new technologies that will support Ireland’s communities and local economies.
“Our shared island is likely to be one of the most significant beneficiaries of the new renewable energy technologies that are being developed. Technologies such as hydrogen and offshore wind and wave generation are set to transform energy supply on this island,” he said.
“Businesses across the island will be central to delivering the projects that will apply this new scientific and technical knowledge to the real-world challenges that we are encountering, and there is enormous appetite globally for investing in these technologies. We have both the natural resources and available capital to transform this island into a net energy exporter.”
President of NI Chamber Paul Murnaghan described the event as “an exciting opportunity to map out just where this island stands in the climate change fight-back, and to begin to chart a way forward which we can all sign up to – the business community, political representatives and wider civic society.”
Givan spoke on the importance of a united approach to the issue of climate change and said he pledged to do all he could to preserve Ireland as a home for future generations. “To make this a reality, and not just a wish, takes the whole community. This involves government, businesses, civic society and people, young and old.”
O’Neill emphasised the critical nature of the climate crisis and said a response required “emergency action”.
“We have a small window of opportunity to do something. And we simply can’t afford to be outliers. It needs real leadership, from all parts of society,” she said. “The fact that the heads of government – north and south – are here today to discuss climate change is a mark of both the seriousness of the situation and also our commitment to tackling it.”
“Our shared island is likely to be one of the most significant beneficiaries of the new renewable energy technologies that are being developed." — Ian Talbot, Chief Executive, Chambers Ireland
CHAMBER FEATURE
Big win for Cork City Council
Cork City Council has been named Local Authority of the Year after it won three individual accolades at the Excellence in Local Government Awards 2021.
Ian Talbot, Chief Executive, Chambers Ireland, Lord Mayor Cllr Colm Kelleher, Conor Healy, Chief Executive, Cork Chamber and Brian Geaney, Assistant Chief Executive, Cork City Council
Hosted by Chambers Ireland and sponsored by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the Local Government Awards highlight the positive impact of local government across Ireland. In total, 2021 saw 90 projects from 20 local authorities shortlisted as finalists in 16 categories.
Cork City Council was the winner of three awards: Health and Wellbeing, Enhancing the Urban Environment, and Heritage and Built Environment.
The council’s winning projects included initiatives that allowed children to participate in sports during Covid-19 restrictions, transformed the city centre of Cork into a people-first amenity without cars, and provided nine sheltered housing apartments through the renovation of two derelict townhouses and the infill of a vacant site.
“The range of work that was undertaken by Cork City Council and the impact it has achieved speaks to the central role of local authorities in developing our communities and providing for the needs of their citizens. From the early days of the pandemic, it saw opportunity in creating a more people-focused city centre and undoubtedly inspired other local authorities and communities across Ireland. That is an achievement which all staff should be proud of,” said Chief Executive of Chambers Ireland Ian Talbot.
“As we look back on this challenging period, we can say that we have seen
CHAMBER FEATURE
the very best of local authorities. Their commitment has delivered initiatives that improved both their communities and the lives of their inhabitants. For so many to have lived up to the standard of excellence is a very positive sign as we look to recovery and the long-term resilience of our towns and cities.”
DILIGENCE AND PROFESSIONALISM
Minister of State for Planning and Local Government, Peter Burke TD said: “Our local authorities have always served Ireland’s towns and cities with diligence and professionalism but the Covid-19 pandemic has tested them like nothing before. The range of work and scale of impact that I have witnessed speaks to their outstanding commitment towards the development of our communities and wellbeing of our citizens. They have delivered when they were needed most and I wish to thank them for their dedication.
“I must also congratulate Cork City Council on being named Local Authority of the Year. These awards have demonstrated the high level of service provided by our local authorities and to claim this title reflects the extensive impact it has made in very difficult circumstances. This achievement is a credit to the staff who proudly serve Cork City each day by enacting initiatives that make a positive difference in the lives of its citizens.”
Excellence in Local Government Awards Winners
Local Authority of the Year 2021 Cork City Council
Supporting Sustainable Communities
(Sponsored by EirGrid) Laois County Council Abbeyleix Community Climate Action Project
Best Practice in
Community Engagement (Sponsored by ESB Network) South Dublin County Council South Dublin County Council Development Plan (CDP) Public Consultation
Health and Wellbeing
(Sponsored by Healthy Ireland) Cork City Council Sports on the Green
Supporting Tourism
(Sponsored by Fáilte Ireland) Monaghan County Council The Patrick Kavanagh Centre and the branded Kavanagh Trail
Promoting Economic Development
(Sponsored by EirGrid) Donegal County Council #BuyDonegal
Local Authority Innovation
(Sponsored by TEKenable) Limerick City and County Council ‘Council Connect’ Staff app
Sustainable Environment
(Sponsored by European Recycling Platform Ireland) Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council dlr’s Coastal Mobility Route
Best Library Service
Meath County Council Laptops for Loan
Sustaining the Arts
(Sponsored by Zurich Ireland) Kildare County Council Kildare Covid Notebook Project
Age Friendly Initiative
(Sponsored by Waterford Crystal) South Dublin County Council Policy for Rightsizing and Allocation of Age Friendly Accommodation
Festival of the Year
(Sponsored by Fáilte Ireland) Monaghan County Council Cavan Monaghan Online Science Festival 2020
Initiative through the
Municipal Districts (Sponsored by LGIU Ireland) Clare County Council Restructuring of Municipal Districts to improve community and economic outcomes
Enhancing the Urban Environment
(Sponsored by Ervia) Cork City Council Re-opening a More Resilient Cork City Centre
Heritage and Built Environment
(Sponsored by AIB Ireland) Cork City Council Infill Housing Conservation Project, 5-6 Shandon Street & JP Curran Street
Disability Services Provision
(Sponsored by EirGrid) Monaghan County Council My Right to Vote - General Election voter education
Commemorations & Centenaries
(Sponsored by An Post) Cavan County Council Bringing History to Life Despite the Odds
CHAMBER FEATURE
Digital disruption and opportunity
Co-organised by the International Chamber of Commerce and Dubai Chamber, the World Chambers Congress took place in Dubai from 23 to 25 November with the theme Next Generation: Chambers 4.0.
Left to right: Mary Rose Burke, CEO of Dublin Chamber; Aebhric McGibney, Director of Public and International A airs at Dublin Chamber; Catherine Moroney, Head of Business Banking Market at AIB and President of Dublin Chamber; Vincent Harrison, Managing Director at Dublin Airport and Vice President of Dublin Chamber; and Linda McNulty, Director of Operations at Dublin Chamber
Placing a key focus on digital disruption and innovation, the World Chambers Congress in November was the rst hybrid event of its kind and examined how Chambers of Commerce around the world are rethinking their priorities and creating new solutions that can address existing challenges, remove trade barriers and drive global prosperity.
Taking place since 1999, the event serves as an international forum for Chamber leaders and professionals to share best practices, exchange insights, develop networks, address the latest business issues and learn about new areas of innovation. e Dubai edition featured thought leaders from the world of tech, academia and politics who participated in panel discussions on how Chambers can set a global agenda and create a collaborative action plan to ensure they remain trusted and relevant leaders in the 21st century.
Dublin Chamber was also among four nalists for the Best Climate Action Project at the World Chambers Competition, which took place during the congress. e competition is the only award programme of its kind to recognise innovative projects undertaken by Chambers from around the world. e Chamber’s Sustainability Academy, created in association with AIB, competed with projects from England, Turkey and Belgium. Following a pitching event, during which each nalist presented their project to the congress, East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce was declared the winner.
Despite not taking home the award, the competition represented an important opportunity for a global Chamber audience to see some of the excellent work of Chambers in Ireland working with members to demonstrate leadership in promoting business sustainability.
THEMES AND HIGHLIGHTS
In its hybrid format, over 3,800 Chamber leaders, representatives and industry experts from 110 countries attended the congress. More than 80 speakers took part in 44 interactive sessions over the three days. Recurring themes included the importance of sustainability, how Chambers can become more collaborative and the disruptive role that Generation Z will play over the coming years.
Other highlights of 12WCC were the launch of the Chamber Model Innovation framework for revamping Chamber services and embracing innovation, the latest edition of the Dubai Innovation Index analysing innovation input across 39 cities and the Digital Fitness Test designed for Chambers of Commerce to evaluate their digital capabilities.
During the congress, Dubai Chamber also released a whitepaper titled ‘Generation Next: Chambers 4.0 - Transforming Disruption into Opportunity for Global Business’, which provided insights into the concept of Chambers 4.0 and how technology is reshaping global trade. e next World Chambers Congress will take place in 2023.
CHAMBER PARTNER PROFILE
Sustainability driver
David McRedmond, CEO of An Post, announcing the rollout of the organisation’s EV fleet across Cork City, with a gathering of key dignitaries, elected representatives and members of the business community. Pictured are (left to right): Joan Lucey, Vibes and Scribes; Diarmuid Cogan, An Post; Councillor Colm Kelleher, Lord Mayor of Cork; David McRedmond, CEO of An Post; and Fiona Burke, An Post An Post is celebrating major gains across its sustainability strategy, including being ranked the third most sustainable postal service across the globe by industry trade body the International Postal Corporation.
Last year, the International Postal Corporation ranked An Post as the thirteenth most sustainable postal service in the world. The rise to third place in 2021 is based on An Post’s world-leading rollout of electric vehicles (EVs); initiatives to support sustainable communities; and a broadly-based sustainability action plan.
An Post also recently celebrated its emission-free delivery service in Cork, marking over 1,000 EVs driving emissionfree deliveries across the cities of Cork, Dublin, Limerick, Galway, Kilkenny and Waterford. An Post is the first postal service in the world to deliver an emission-free postal service across five cities including the country’s capital city. The news was announced at events in Cork, Galway and Limerick.
TRUCK FLEET TRIAL
In further developments to its climate change action plan, An Post announced the results of its carbon-cutting solutions for its
heavy goods vehicle fleet. An Post is the first company in Ireland to trial the use of hydrotreated vegetable oil as truck fuel, which will yield an estimated full-year reduction in CO2 of 90% and save 265 tons of CO2 on estimated emissions of 295 tons using diesel. The trial took place across An Post’s entire Galway truck fleet over two months and it was announced in November that this is now being extended to its Waterford and Cork fleets.
“The challenge to decarbonise our society is enormous and the public sector has a major role to play in leading by example and decarbonising our public services, while also enhancing the services they provide,” said Minister for the Environment Eamon Ryan. “The responsibility An Post has shown towards its sustainability agenda highlights what is possible through strong and committed action. Through a commitment from its leadership, dedicated resources, structured approaches and planning and consistent investment, An Post has stepped up to embrace this challenge and is justifiably placed amongst the leaders in sustainability in Ireland today.”
David McRedmond, CEO of An Post, said: “To be third in the world in our industry for sustainability is a great achievement for An Post and for its owners and customers and the people of Ireland. Our sustainability strategy has always been about delivering results and driving action across the length and breadth of Ireland – whether that is in carbon reduction, building sustainable communities or building a fair and equitable workplace. I’m proud of the staff at An Post who have achieved the transition to zero-emission fleets across all our cities.’’
EMBASSY OF BRAZIL IN IRELAND PROFILE
There is an opportunity for Ireland and Brazil to become partners in addressing the issue of matching global food and energy requirements to environmental imperatives, says the Ambassador of Brazil in Ireland Marcel Biato.
Brazil's track record
Previous articles in this publication have highlighted how Brazil went from being a food importer to one of the world’s largest exporters of agricultural products. Brazilian farmers’ entrepreneurship and government commitment to greater sustainability underpin the country's unique ability to balance two fundamental challenges facing our planet and its inhabitants: providing food for a growing population while at the same time preserving our planet’s increasingly threatened natural environment.
The answer lies in a remarkable tale of technology-induced productivity growth. In the past 40 years, Brazil’s agricultural and livestock production methods have transformed dramatically. During this period, Brazilian agricultural production grew by 385%, while the land area under cultivation increased by only 32%.
But Brazil is not resting on its laurels. The ever-growing worldwide demand for high-quality, protein-rich foodstuffs requires continuous efforts to increase food output. Just as critical are the worrisome trends in climate change recently reviewed at the COP26 Summit in Glasgow, not least the rising levels of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, including from agriculture. The challenge for agribusiness is to cease to be part of the problem and become a core component of the solution.
This article will briefly review how Brazilian farmers are playing their part in increasing agricultural production in an environmentallyfriendly manner. It is called the Brazilian Agricultural Policy for Climate Adaptation and Low Carbon Emission (ABC+ Plan), a programme rooted in science-based technological innovation for sustainable food production that builds on Brazil's proven achievements.
A blueprint for the future
The ABC+ Plan aims to strengthen climate adaptation strategies already in place and encourage an integrated approach in food production. This involves promoting production systems that foster soil, water, and biodiversity conservation while at the same time contributing to greater control of GHG emissions. By combining these twin goals, certified low carbon emission agriproducts will be made available to national and international markets in the foreseeable future.
Building on the first phase of the original ABC Plan, which was carried out between 2010 and 2020 and mitigated around 170 million tons of carbon dioxide, the ABC+ Plan commits the Brazilian farming sector to supporting global efforts to tackle climate change without constraining crop or herd output.
As in the past, Brazil will continue to focus on technological innovation as a key driver in making food production sustainable in its economic, social and environmental dimensions. It is expected that by the end of the Plan's 2020-2030 implementation cycle, all Brazil's farms will be on the way to applying enhanced sustainable and resilient production systems.
The ABC+ Plan rests on certain conceptual pillars. Firstly, management of farming areas should take into account the diversity of rural landscapes. In the past, farmers sought to expand production by bringing new land, often forested, under tillage, irrespective of its adequacy for agriculture. The result was often self-defeating for the farmer as well as the environment. Much of this land was soon abandoned given falling productivity and more virgin land was brought under the plough. Today, emphasis is placed on the efficient use of fields suitable for farming, with strong incentives to comply with environmental rules, to recognise the value of native landscapes, invest in genetic improvement and to recover and conserve soil, water, and biodiversity.
Secondly, farmers are encouraged to reduce topsoil erosion; maintain crop residues on the soil surface; and diversify species, in rotation, intercropping and/or succession of cultures. These sustainable production practices ensure
EMBASSY OF BRAZIL IN IRELAND PROFILE
efficiency and profitability, while promoting conservation of ecosystems and natural resources.
To achieve these ambitious goals, which often require farmers giving up longstanding beliefs and traditions, the ABC+ Plan fosters innovative planting techniques, including integrated and no tillage systems; biological nitrogen fixation; planted forests; restoration of degraded pastures; and animal waste management. On-farm units test and validate new practices, enabling professionals to update technically as well as providing a source of research data. Digital technologies in the field and connectivity in farming areas will ensure that these benefits are shared widely.
To encourage farmers to adopt best practices, an ample range of economic incentives and market instruments such as certification of origin and traceability will be made available. This, in turn, requires access to diversified financial and tax-related instruments, made available through both public and private financial agents. Finally, a new governance structure, supported by solid evaluation, monitoring, and reporting protocols, is already helping to improve information management by ensuring transparency and consistency.
Common challenge
Brazilian agribusiness is rising to the challenge of curbing emissions, while at the same time
continuing to be a major force for global food and energy security. Ireland has undergone an equally dramatic transformation, leaving behind a history of famine. As it becomes a significant supplier of meat and dairy produce, Ireland faces the need to enact policies in line with its recently adopted ambitious Climate Action Plan, which makes large demands on Irish farmers.
Matching global food and energy requirements to environmental imperatives provides an obvious opportunity for our two countries to join forces. One possible line of joint action was discussed at a recent webinar sponsored by the Embassy and Apex-Brazil*. It brought together international specialists in the field, including representatives from the Irish Bioenergy Association, and focused on how the experience of Brazil and other countries (Sweden) in blending biomasses (specifically, ethanol and biodiesel) into the national fuel mix can help Ireland bring down fuel prices while at the same time cutting emissions*. This is a partnership worth developing. All have much to gain, our planet foremost.
*Available at https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=qlqBTbhdQ84
CHAMBER PARTNER PROFILE
Orla Bowers, Senior Product Manager, AIB Merchant Services
Big data for small business
Orla Bowers, Senior Product Manager, AIB Merchant Services, discusses a new online tool called Main Street Insights, designed to support businesses with managing and understanding important data.
As a Chamber member, you know that knowledge and insight can unlock new opportunities. One great strength that your business can demonstrate is a deep and thorough understanding of your customers – and your competitive landscape. Knowing this can help you make important decisions; on how your business can expand, where to best spend on marketing investment and how to grow loyalty among those who shop regularly with you.
While getting this information can be timeconsuming, maintaining it is an even greater challenge, never mind having to crunch data and glean insights from it. To make the task much easier, however, Main Street Insights is
a free online tool from AIB Merchant Services, designed to help you understand more about your customers and competitors, providing local analysis that is not otherwise easily available to you.
Derived from card data and using your precise business location, Main Street Insights provides anonymised approximations for where customers live and spend, how far they travel to your store and how often. It indicates customer demographic information in relation to spend trends, such as the age and gender of customers who spent the most in your store during a specific period.
What’s more, you can compare your business against groups of similar businesses by analysing your store in relation to those in the same industry and vicinity. Data is aggregated and no individual customer or business can be identified when using the tool.
WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH ALL OF THIS DATA?
With social media acting as the primary marketing tool for many small businesses, Main Street Insights can help you to get the maximum return on advertising spend by helping you to precisely narrow down your target audience by age, gender and location. And with interactive maps, you can understand where your target customers are – either by seeing where your existing customers live or by seeing where you have an opportunity to find new customers.
Multi-outlet chains can get on-the-ground information about individual stores and use this information to plan and chart marketing activity across the chain.
Because Main Street Insights gives you a constantly evolving view of new and returning customer activity, you can easily assess the effectiveness of any marketing campaigns, promotions or product line changes.
And with historic data available to view, you can use Main Street Insights to inform big, strategic business decisions such as expansion and investment.
The data is crunched for you and presented clearly, so there is no need for experience in report building or data analysis. It’s available free of charge to all AIB Merchant Services customers in the Republic of Ireland.
You can find out more about how to access Main Street Insights at www.aibms.com/ mainstreetinsights.
CHAMBER PARTNER PROFILE
A powerful blueprint
EirGrid has a unique and challenging role to play in leading the radical transformation of the electricity sector to low-carbon, renewable energy.
As the national electricity grid operator, EirGrid needs to add more energy from renewable sources to the power system over the next nine years.
Doing so is necessary to meet the government target of at least 70% of electricity consumption from renewable sources by 2030. This is an important step on the journey to 80% renewables and net zero by 2050.
To assess how best to achieve the 2030 target, EirGrid embarked on a 14-week consultation process earlier this year, putting forward four approaches for developing the grid.
The final roadmap contains a blended approach looking at grid development from an economic, technical, social acceptance and deliverability perspective and seeks to minimise impacts on communities, while still delivering on the renewable ambitions.
The plan envisages 40 new grid infrastructure projects, representing a total investment of over €1bn.
Throughout the ‘Shaping Our Electricity Future’ consultation, EirGrid held a range of engagement and participation activities, including six regional Chamber events and national industry forums.
Speaking about the consultation, Head of Public Engagement, Sinead Dooley said: “EirGrid must transform the power system for future generations and we can only do this with public acceptance. This roadmap represents a blueprint for that transformation, with invaluable input from industry and the public.”
The Shaping Our Electricity Future Roadmap was launched by EirGrid Chief Executive Mark Foley and Eamon Ryan, Minister for the Environment, Climate, Communications and Transport at the COP26 climate summit in November.
FEEDBACK REFLECTED
In terms of industry feedback reflected in the roadmap, there was favour for alternative and new technologies to be considered in any future network development.
Similar to public feedback, there was no
Eamon Ryan, Minister for the Environment, Climate, Communications and Transport, EirGrid Chief Executive Mark Foley and Liam Ryan, EirGrid Chief Innovation and Planning Officer, unveiling the Shaping Our Electricity Future Roadmap at COP26
appetite for the price of electricity to rise because of the transition to a low-carbon electricity system.
The need for electricity markets to evolve to support investment for new and existing market participants was highlighted and it was recognised that public acceptance is crucial for timely grid infrastructure delivery.
On network reinforcements, industry responses showed support for the building of required network infrastructure to commence as quickly as possible to support renewables.
For EirGrid, publication of this roadmap triggers the start of a multi-year journey to address emissions in the electricity industry and to support other sectors, such as heating and transport.
The roadmap will be updated at least every two years, in response to the latest technology, economic, policy and system developments as EirGrid continues to work with stakeholders and the general public in making our energy system safe, affordable, secure, reliable and sustainable.
CHAMBER PARTNER PROFILE
Spring in your step
Whether you use a Waterford Crystal vase to display cut flowers from your garden, roses or a floral arrangement, it makes a stunning statement in your home as springtime approaches.
Waterford Crystal vases come in an amazing variety of shapes and sizes. From small bud vases that house a single flower to large vases for bouquets. Visitors can see our selection of vases in the 12,000 sq ft of crystal heaven in the largest retail and showcase of Waterford Crystal in the world.
GUIDED FACTORY TOUR
A luxury collection of the finest crystal continues to be made by skilled craftsmen at the House of Waterford Crystal factory situated in the heart of Waterford City. On the tour, visitors witness mould-making – a technique at Waterford that has remained unchanged throughout the centuries. Visitors enter the blowing department, watching glowing balls of crystal transformed into majestic shapes as they are put through the 1,400-degree furnace.
While getting this behind-the-scenes sneak peek of this highly-skilled method of crystal manufacturing, visitors see the high standards that the House of Waterford Crystal maintains for each piece that leaves the factory. Visitors next witness the cutting department. Master cutters rely on their skill to judge the amount of pressure that is required to hold the crystal to the wheel; too much pressure will cause a cut through to the other side.
The final stages of the tour are the engraving and sculpting departments. Master sculptors work three-dimensionally, using their skill to sculpt the desired piece from solid blocks of crystal. Days, weeks, and even months can pass before a sculpted piece is completed. The type of copper wheel engraving used at Waterford Crystal is called 'Intaglio', which means reverse.
RETAIL STORE, BRAND EXPERIENCE AND CAFÉ
The retail store at Waterford represents everything we make in crystal, including a showcase on golf and sport, which is a major part of our international business. Our café serves sumptuous food, homemade sweet treats, and afternoon tea served in Wedgwood fine bone china. We use the best locally-sourced seasonal produce supporting as many Irish suppliers as possible.
CORPORATE AND SPORTS
Our corporate and gift solutions cater to rewarding your employees or clients. We can customise a piece from our core range, which will allow you to create your unique message or logo on an item. Our worldwide shipping service allows the flexibility to deliver 24/48 hours to Ireland, the UK or the US. Our dedicated Sales Manager Tom Walsh can be contacted at tom.walsh@fiskars.com or 087 120 9143.
Go to waterfordvisitorcentre.com, email houseofwaterfordcrystal@fiskars.com or call 051 317000 for more information.
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LEINSTER
Fingal businesses get free eCargo bikes, Dublin Belfast Economic Corridor Oversight Board is established, and Meath County Council sets a budget of €162m for 2022 Cork County Council signs up to All-Ireland Pollinator Plan, virtual reality initiative wins European award, Legato opens R&D hub in Plassey, and final section of Limerick Greenway opens Mayo opens R312 Glenisland Bridge Scheme and extends free outdoor public WiFi, while Sligo makes a bid for World Heritage Tentative List Donegal County Council adds electric vehicles to its transport fleet, €784,524 announced for Cavan outdoor adventure projects, and Avoniel opens in east Belfast following £8m redevelopment
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ULSTER
1,500th birthday of Colmcille marked with a global audience
Colmcille 1500 panel members Dr Brian Lacey (far left) and Christy Gillespie pictured at the Great Hall in Magee Campus at the University of Ulster along with Deirdre Harte, Project Manager (far right) and event host Áine Ní Bhreisleáin of Radio Na Gaeltachta. Photo by Lorcan Doherty.
A global audience tuned in to the Great Hall at Magee Campus at the University of Ulster in Derry to mark St Colmcille’s 1,500th birthday. Two hundred people from ten countries tuned in to the historic event co-hosted by Donegal County Council and Derry City and Strabane District Council. Colmcille 1500 is a year-long commemoration marking the anniversary of the birth of St Colmcille, who was born in Gartan, Co Donegal in either 520 or 521 AD. He died in Iona Scotland in 597. The virtual event combined video, dance, documentary, poetry and discussion with two expert panels taking part. The Irish panel was made up of Professor of Irish Malachy Ó Néill, Director of Regional Engagement at University of Ulster, Magee Campus; archaeologist and historian Dr Brian Lacey; and Christy Gillespie, author, historian and former principal of Scoil Cholmcille, Termon in the heart of Colmcille’s local area. Joining live from Scotland were Dr Alasdair Whyte, University of Glasgow; Brian Ó hEadhra, Partnerships and Funding Manager, Bòrd Na Gàidhlig; and Joy Dunlop, Gaelic singer and TV and radio presenter. This particular event charted Colmcille’s life’s journey from Gartan to Scotland and back to the Causeway Coast area before his return to Iona. Colmcille 1500 Project Manager Deirdre Harte described the event as building on a magnificent legacy: “We are so proud to have been able to include this event in a year-long series of celebratory occasions. There is so much history and now legacy between the North West and Scotland bound by our Colmcille connections.” Video contributions came from Donegal, Derry, Kells, Durrow, Sligo and Causeway Coast and Glens as well as Argyll, Iona and the Western Isles in Scotland. Ending the twohour event was a video from a new legacy project originating in Donegal called Slí Colmcille Camino. Described as an ambitious project, it is establishing a pilgrimage linking key sites related to St Colmcille from Donegal, Derry, the North Sperrins and the Bann to Argyll and eventually the island of Iona.
60 SUSTAINABLE SWAPS IN FINGAL
62 GIVING BEES A CHANCE
64 SLIGO CITY PROJECT ADVANCES
In Association with
• Din Regular
[ FINGAL ]
Anthony from Altitude Coffee with this eCargo bike, Mayor of Fingal Seána Ó Rodaigh, and David Storey of Fingal County Council
Fingal County Council provides eCargo bikes to businesses
As part of its commitment to climate action and providing sustainable travel alternatives, Fingal County Council provided free branded eCargo bikes, to replace the use of motor vehicles for local area deliveries, to The Village Garden Centre in Malahide, Altitude Coffee in Donabate, Jack the Bachelors Restaurant in Rush, and Goldfish Design in Blanchardstown for 12 months. Maintenance throughout the pilot will be handled by Bleeper. eCargo delivery bikes are one of several sustainable travel projects run by the Department of Environment, Climate Action and Active Travel. The council has in recent months worked with sports clubs on the Gear Up for Training cycling education initiative and is in the process of upgrading school cycling infrastructure across the county through the Safe Routes to School programme, as well as undertaking upgrade works on cycle lanes. This project further extends the reach of Active Travel to the business community for the first time. “Bike delivery is not a new concept. There was once a time when all local businesses delivered their goods in the basket of a bike. Today we can get back to basics by using pedal power and reap the benefits of this timeless solution,” says Mayor of Fingal Cllr Seána Ó Rodaigh. “Throughout the next 12 months we will monitor how the bikes are used, what impact this switch to bike delivery has on how they do business and the impact on the environment compared to their usual delivery methods,” says David Storey, Director of Services for Environment, Climate Action and Active Travel.
[ COUNTY MEATH ]
Meath County Council adopts €162m budget for 2022
Meath County councillors have adopted the budget for 2022 which provides for expenditure of over €162m on local public services, an increase of €7.62m (4.9%) from 2021. “This is the largest budget ever presented to members, with a total increase of 38% since the current council was elected in 2019,” says Fiona Lawless, Head of Finance at Meath County Council. The largest spend in the county next year will be on transportation, taking up almost 30 per cent of the budget. This includes a new provision made for footpaths and footpath repairs in the order of €600,000. Budget 2022 will also facilitate an increase in the number of routes added to the Winter Gritting Plan. Housing will see a total increase of €2.6m, bringing the total expenditure for 2022 to €46,076,500. An ongoing challenge and something that will receive greater resources this year is the maintenance of the council’s social housing stock and estate management programme. The council will implement a new preventative maintenance, as well as the response maintenance programme totalling €6.1m, an additional provision of €1,006,785 on last year. As part of its commitment to climate action and in order to meet its energy usage reduction targets, the council will have a renewed focus on its energy consumption and improving its efficiency in 2022. An additional €100,000 is being made available to assist in the establishment of a regional energy bureau, which will provide energy management services to the council to help it meet its targets. A further €100,000 is provided for a new energy assessment of all council buildings and facilities, which will provide essential baseline data to assist in accessing SEAI grant funding for future works to improve energy performance.
[ COUNTY DUBLIN ]
A new cross-border partnership established to foster economic growth along the key strategic route between Dublin and Belfast has announced its inaugural political leadership team, who will help drive employment opportunities, address barriers impacting trade and encourage the delivery of better transport infrastructure. Cllr Pete Byrne from Newry, Mourne and Down District Council in Northern Ireland was elected as Chair of the Dublin Belfast Economic Corridor (DBEC) Oversight Board, a body made up of councillors from the eight local authorities along the corridor. Mayor of Fingal Cllr Seána Ó Rodaigh was named Deputy Chair. Speaking at DBEC’s first Oversight Board meeting, Ó Rodaigh said: “Alongside the obvious social and economic benefits of closer cross-border collaboration in order to develop the corridor, what we are looking to help drive is greater inward investment, the boosting of trade opportunities for local businesses, increased production in key sectors and higher employment. This will be increasingly important as the population along the corridor continues to grow.” “We have a real opportunity through the work of DBEC to deliver jobs and sustainable growth along what is a major economic pipeline for the whole of the island,” says new DBEC Chair Cllr Pete Byrne. The DBEC partnership has members coming from four councils on either side of the border. There are 24 councillors who sit on the Oversight Board, three each coming from the eight councils involved: Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council; Belfast City Council; Dublin City Council; Fingal County Council; Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council; Louth County Council; Meath County Council; and Newry, Mourne and Down District Council. The partnership also includes Dublin City University and Ulster University, who collaborated to produce the report that led to the formation of the group in March 2021.
New DBEC Chair Cllr Pete Byrne and Deputy Chair Cllr Seána Ó Rodaigh
Work has commenced on the construction of a new €1.5m All-Weather Sports Pitch Facility at Ward River Valley Regional Park in Swords. The new third-generation, synthetic, all-weather pitch will be a full-sized GAA and soccer pitch. The new floodlight facility will be accompanied by car, coach and bicycle parking to service the needs of the pitch users as well as improving access to the park. It is anticipated that the facility will be completed by the second quarter of 2022.
€230K+
LEADER funding approved for rural Fingal projects
The Dublin Rural LEADER Local Action Group approved €230,748.76 in funding for five new projects in rural Fingal at its November meeting, bringing the number of projects approved during the LEADER Transition Programme to 15 since it began in April 2021, with a total value of €543,984.52. The approved projects are in the areas of Economic Development, Rural Environment and Social Inclusion.
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[ COUNTY CORK ]
Pictured at the signing of the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan are (from left) Valerie O’Sullivan, Divisional Manager, Cork County Council; Michael Lynch, Director of Services Planning, Cork County Council; Sharon Casey,
Ecologist, Cork County Council; and Tim Lucey, Chief Executive of Cork County Council. Photo: Brian Lougheed.
Cork County Council has officially signed up to the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan – an ambitious five-year roadmap co-ordinated by the National Biodiversity Data Centre, which aims to make farmland, public and private land pollinatorfriendly. The council is preparing five new Pollinator Plans for the towns of Youghal, Mitchelstown, Skibbereen, Dunmanway and Cobh with the intention to implement the new plans during 2022. There are already seven plans in place across the county – in Midleton, Macroom, Kinsale, Fermoy, Kanturk, Bantry and Carrigaline. The strategy for each town is being led by an ecologist and centres around identifying and protecting existing areas that are good for bees and insects as well as planting pollinator-friendly beds, trees and bulbs. The plans also focus on reducing or eliminating the use of pesticides and altering the frequency of grass cutting to allow more native plants to flower. “Pollination is essential for plant reproduction and sustaining healthy food as well as other important crops,” says Mayor of the County of Cork Cllr Gillian Coughlan. “However, one-third of Ireland’s bee species are threatened with extinction because of the reduction in the amount of flowers and safe nesting sites. Bumblebees, solitary bees, hoverflies and butterflies need sufficient supplies of food in the form of a range of flowering plants. These insects also need nesting places in long grass, burrows and crevices in wood or old walls. Cork County Council is working hard to make progress in this area. I’m delighted to say that there will soon be 12 Pollinator Plans in place across Cork County.”
[ COUNTY LIMERICK ]
€583K+
Limerick received funding of €583,868.24 to develop a number of outdoor recreation projects across the county. Limerick City and County Council received the bulk of the funding totalling €545,100 with Ballyhoura Development and West Limerick Resources receiving €38,768 as part of the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme operated by the Department of Rural and Community Development, as part of Our Rural Future.
[ COUNTY CORK ]
€372M
budget for 2022 approved by Cork County Council
Cork County Council approved an annual budget for 2022 of €372m, an increase of €24m on last year. Initiatives include additional funding for the maintenance and improvement of Local Authority Housing with provisions to refurbish more than 150 vacant properties; €1.2m for the Economic Development Fund and to address town regeneration issues; €8.2m for Libraries; and a fund of €150,000 for the Arts Programme for Creative Towns and Spaces.
[ COUNTY LIMERICK ]
Rajat Puri, President, Legato Health Technologies; Minister of State with responsibility for Skills and Further Education Niall Collins TD; and John Patrick
Shaw, Country Head, Legato Health Technologies Ireland. Photo: True Media. Mayor of the City and County of Limerick Cllr Daniel Butler has welcomed the announcement by Legato Heath Technologies (Legato) that it will double its workforce to 120 by the middle of next year. The news was announced as Legato officially opened its R&D hub at the National Technology Park in Plassey, Limerick. Mayor Butler said the creation of 60 extra jobs follows the initial 60 jobs committed to in September by Legato and is testament to the strong available talent in Limerick in the health technologies sector. “I’m delighted that Legato has committed to additional jobs in Limerick to create and develop solutions that promote high value and access to healthcare. These highly-skilled new roles which include AI engineers and expert data scientists will enable the company to apply cutting-edge technologies to solve complex problems and I’m thrilled that this innovation will be centred in Limerick and that the company has signalled strong growth intentions for its operations in the MidWest.” Founded in 2017 as a fully-owned subsidiary of Anthem Inc, Legato Health Technologies is committed to transforming healthcare through operational excellence, innovation and digital transformation. With over 20,000 associates worldwide and growing, Legato has the scale to effectively implement global operating models and drive digital transformations that help health insurers reduce cost and improve service delivery.
[ COUNTY LIMERICK ]
The final 3km section of the €10m, 40km Limerick Greenway from Abbeyfeale to the Kerry Border at Kilmorna opened to the public in November. “The completion of the Limerick Greenway from Abbeyfeale to the Kerry Border at Kilmorna marks an important milestone for this project and particularly for the town of Abbeyfeale,” says Cathaoirleach of Newcastle West Municipal District Cllr Liam Galvin. “With nearly 250,000 users on the Limerick Greenway since it opened on the 1st July, it indicates the opportunity we now have on our doorstep.” Kerry County Council is working to open the first section of the North Kerry Greenway, which will connect Listowel with the Limerick
Greenway at Kilmorna, in Summer 2022. Photo: True Media.
Your life, your choice
A virtual reality initiative developed by Cork County Council, which simulates what it’s like to be a passenger in a fatal crash, has won a major European award. The council’s virtual reality Your Life – Your Choice education programme has received gold at the Excellence in Road Safety Awards 2021 in Brussels. Cork County Council began using VR headsets in late 2018 as a way of connecting with young drivers. The VR experience immerses the user in a 360-degree simulation of a fatal crash from the perspective of a front-seat passenger. The pilot programme involved 1,200 students from County Cork and was spearheaded by Cork County Council Road Safety Officer Caroline Casey, with assistance from West Cork Community Gardai and Leicestershire Fire and Rescue. The headsets were sponsored by Aviva Driving School and the programme has since been rolled out across the country, reaching over 10,000 students to date.
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[ COUNTY SLIGO ]
Back row: Tom Kilfeather, Director of Services; Brian O’Rourke, Director (Consulting Engineer), O’Connor Sutton Cronin and Associates (OCSC); Colin Wilson, Associate, OCSC; Councillor Declan Bree; Niall McGrath, Senior Resident Engineer; Ken Murtagh, Site Technician; Tom Brennan, Senior Engineer; Paul O’Rourke, Project Engineer. Front row: Chief Executive, Martin Lydon; Councillor Rosaleen O’Grady; Mayor Councillor Arthur Gibbons; Finbar Fox, Director, Fox Building and Civil Ltd; David Minton, Director, Northern and Western Regional Assembly.
From left: Mayor Councillor Arthur Gibbons; Finbar Fox, Director, Fox Building and Civil Ltd; Chief Executive Martin Lydon; and David Minton, Director, Northern and Western Regional Assembly
The contract for phase two of the O’Connell Street Enhancement Project has been awarded to Fox Building and Civil Ltd. It’s anticipated that the contract will commence in Q1 of 2022. Funding was confirmed by the Department of Housing under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) as part of Project 2040. This funding combined with the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) will facilitate the completion of this flagship project for Sligo City. Phase two will continue the design principles that have been applied in phase one and consists of approximately 180m of existing roadway and footpaths along O’Connell Street, Lower Knox Street, Hyde Bridge, Fish Quay and Wine Street in Sligo. “The next phase of the O’Connell Street project is welcomed by local businesses and their customers. In addition to enhancing the appearance of our town centre, it also provides improved safety measures for vulnerable road users,” says Mayor Councillor Arthur Gibbons. “Phase two will continue to incorporate innovation by providing substantial measures to cater for future smart technologies that may be employed for the exchange of data in the city area,” adds Director of Services Tom Kilfeather. “These include the provision for connection of WiFi on the street, gathering real-time environmental data, and monitoring pedestrian and traffic movements.”
[ COUNTY MAYO ]
€35K
allocated to 31 Mayo sports clubs
At a Mayo Sports Partnership committee meeting, 31 sports clubs and groups were allocated €35,000 under a second round of Covid-19 support funding. The scheme was targeted at organisations who weren’t in receipt of support in round one as well as indoor activities.
Free outdoor public WiFi goes live in Balla, Ballinrobe, Castlebar and Claremorris
Mayo County Council was successful in securing €60,000 under the WiFi4EU initiative to provide free outdoor public WiFi in nine locations in the county. The European funding was match-funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development. The service is installed in public places such as main streets, public parks and other areas of high footfall. The official launch of Mayo’s WiFi4EU initiative took place on 16 December 2020 in Ballina, with the service also going live at that time in Belmullet, Crossmolina, Newport and Swinford. The service has now been expanded, going live in November 2021 in Balla, Ballinrobe, Castlebar and Claremorris.
[ COUNTY MAYO ]
R312 Glenisland Bridge Scheme
Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Hildegarde Naughton TD officially opened the R312 Glenisland Bridge Scheme. The R312 is an important connection to the Erris region of Northwest Mayo, which serves a very large rural catchment area and is the largest Gaeltacht area in Mayo. It is of particular importance to the economical, tourism and regional development of the Erris region and is the main access from South Mayo and further afield. The purpose of this scheme was to replace a section of carriageway which was substandard in width and alignment and provide a new safer realigned section of carriageway. Minister Naughton and Cllr Martin McLoughlin, Cathaoirleach of Castlebar Municipal District, unveiled a plaque to commemorate the opening, while Fr Chris Brennan performed a blessing of the development. “This project is vital to the families, communities and businesses of the Erris region and I am confident it will provide for safer travel for all road users in the many years ahead,” says Minister Naughton.
€100K
Town Centre First Plan funding awarded to Carrick-on-Shannon
Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys TD announced €2.6m in funding to deliver the first ever Town Centre First Plans, which will be key to tackling dereliction and revitalising town centres. Carrick-on-Shannon is one of 26 towns selected nationally to be part of this initiative, with Leitrim County Council receiving €100,000 to support the development of a masterplan.
Carrowkeel, Co Sligo
Minister Noonan endorses recommendations for new World Heritage Tentative List and includes Sligo
Sligo County Council in partnership with the Sligo Neolithic Landscapes Group submitted an application to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage for The Passage Tomb Landscape of County Sligo to be placed on Ireland’s new Tentative List of World Heritage Properties. Sligo County Council welcomed the endorsement by Minister Malcolm Noonan of the findings of an Expert Advisory Group (EAG) appointed to review the applications made to Ireland’s new Tentative List of World Heritage Properties. The EAG was required to assess whether the applications demonstrated outstanding universal value (OUV) as well as stakeholder support. In respect of the Passage Tomb Landscape of County Sligo application, the EAG found that the potential OUV had been well illustrated and recommends the Passage Tombs of Sligo be placed on the Tentative List. “The passage tombs of County Sligo and their careful landscape settings are an extraordinary example of Neolithic architecture and ritual, with few if any international counterparts,” says Dr Stefan Bergh, School of Geography, Archaeology and Irish Studies, NUI Galway, and member of the Sligo Neolithic Landscape group. “They represent one of the greatest achievements of Sligo people and fully deserve UNESCO World Heritage Site recognition.” For many years, concerns have been raised over increased visitor pressure and the deteriorating condition of these sites. Many of these world-class monuments are under threat and require long-term management and conservation for the benefit of all and future generations. Engagement, consultation and partnership will be important in building support for a shared vision of how these sites can be sustainably managed into the future.
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[ COUNTY DONEGAL ] [ COUNTY CAVAN ]
Donegal County Council adds electric vehicles to its transport fleet
FROM LEFT: Cliodhna Campbell, Senior Engineer, Donegal County Council; Cathaoirleach Cllr Jack Murray; John McLaughlin, Chief Executive; Brendan O’Donnell, A/Director of Service, Roads and Transportation; Brian Campbell, Executive Engineer; and Cahal Moss, Senior Executive Engineer.
Donegal County Council recently added three new electric vehicles (EVs) to its fleet in an effort to promote sustainability and climate action. The council recognises the vital role the organisation has to play in relation to reducing energy, climate change mitigation and adaptation. The purchase of the three EVs is the start of the conversion of the council’s fleet, which the council will expand in the coming years. The vehicles were launched by Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council Cllr Jack Murray at the council’s Machinery Yard, Lifford. “The new vehicles represent part of a range of sustainable transport initiatives including the provision of dedicated electric charging points and enhanced facilities for pedestrians and cyclists,” says Senior Executive Engineer Cahal Moss. “Donegal County Council is committed to progressively adding EVs within our transport fleet, showing a strong commitment to reducing emissions. With more council EVs on the road, it is hoped that others will follow the council’s example and make the switch to zero-emission electric vehicles.”
€784,524
announced for Cavan outdoor adventure projects
Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys TD announced €15.5m in funding for 84 outdoor adventure projects nationally, with €784,524 going to projects throughout Co Cavan. The investment – a key part of Our Rural Future – will support rural economies and make rural Ireland a more attractive destination for adventure tourism. Projects include walking and cycling trails, cliffways, beaches, lakes, rivers, bogs, greenways, blueways and bridleways.
Buncrana Tidy Towns has won the National Tidy Towns Pollinator Award for the second time and the regional Tidy Towns Local Authority Pollinator Award for the North West and West Region in the Large Town Category for the fourth year in a row. The winners were announced online at the National Tidy Towns Awards in November. Pictured: George McDermott and Karl King from the Buncrana Tidy Towns Initiative discuss some of the pollinator-friendly measures the group has put in place in Buncrana with Dr Úna FitzPatrick from the National Biodiversity Data Centre. Photo courtesy of Buncrana Tidy Towns Initiative.
[ COUNTY ANTRIM ]
Electric delivery bikes will be taking to Belfast City Centre streets following the launch of a zero-emissions delivery service by local company Streetdock. Funding for the new initiative comes from the Department for Infrastructure’s Sustainable and Active Travel elements of the Department for Communities’ Covid-19 Revitalisation Programme Fund, with Belfast City Council supporting project delivery. The pilot project, which will operate for one year, offers a sustainable delivery solution for city centre-based business-to-business deliveries. Pictured from left is Michael Stewart, President, Belfast Chamber; Ian Richardson from Streetdock; Lord Mayor of Belfast Kate Nicholl; David Kane from Streetdock; and Damien Corr, Manager, Cathedral Quarter BID.
Nine-year-old Ezinne Nwosu, a pupil at Holy Family Primary School in north Belfast, who was serving as Lord Mayor of Belfast for one day, pictured with Belfast Lord Mayor Cllr Kate Nicholl, and Belfast City Council’s Chief Executive Suzanne Wylie
New look Avoniel opens following £8m redevelopment
Belfast Lord Mayor Councillor Kate Nicholl officially opened the new look Avoniel at an event showcasing the redeveloped site in east Belfast. The £8m transformation will address the lack of 3G pitches in the area, while also providing flexible indoor space for the community. It is the fifth of seven new and upgraded centres that make up Belfast City Council’s £105m Leisure Transformation Programme (LTP) – the biggest investment of its kind in the UK. New facilities at Avoniel include an intermediate standard 3G football pitch, 240 covered seats for spectators, three covered and two uncovered 3G five-a-side pitches, an outdoor 3G seven-a-side pitch, multi-purpose rooms, meeting rooms and changing facilities. “This is a stunning new state-of-the-art facility which will play a huge part in improving the health and wellbeing of the local community. Through our Leisure Transformation Programme, the council has proven its commitment to getting more people more active, more often across the city,” says Councillor Nicholl. “Our investment in new and upgraded leisure facilities in east Belfast alone totals £45m. With the opening of Avoniel, the restoration and expansion of historic Templemore Baths which will open next autumn, and the extremely successful Lisnasharragh Leisure Centre which opened in late 2019, this part of the city will be blessed with firstclass facilities catering for a wide range of users for years to come.”
Teaching Business to Make a Transformative Impact In its new strategy, J.E. Cairnes School of Business & Economics at NUI Galway sets out its ambition to be a School of Business and Economics for the public good.
The environs of J.E. Cairnes School of Business & Economics at NUI Galway—a combination of an historic listed building which used to be a friary, and a state-of-the-art new building—could act as a metaphor for the direction the School is headed in. It is building upon the traditional disciplines of Business and Economics, looking to the future, with sustainability and society in mind. The new Strategic Plan 202125 sets out its ambitions for the next chapter in the School’s development, one which sees it committing to making a transformative impact through its teaching, research and collaboration with business.
KEY MILESTONES During the duration of the previous strategic plan, some of the School’s key successes include attaining the world-leading Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accreditation, providing global recognition for excellence in business and economics education.
The appointment of Prof Alma McCarthy as Head of School was another significant moment. Appointed at the beginning of 2021, Prof McCarthy joined the NUI Galway in 2002 as a lecturer and researcher in the Discipline of Management and has previously served as the Head of the Management Discipline at NUI Galway, and as Programme Director for the MBA. Recently, research on remote working, led by Prof McCarthy, was used by the government to develop the new National Remote Working Strategy.
PUBLIC GOOD The School is carving out a niche for itself as a School of Business and Economics for the public good, that is focusing on making a
OUR NEW STRATEGIC PLAN IS CENTRED AROUND FOUR KEY STRATEGIC PRIORITY AREAS OF RESEARCH AND IMPACT, TEACHING AND LEARNING, EXTERNAL ENGAGEMENT AND INTERNATIONALISATION.
transformative impact for students, society and business, guided by the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Energised by its regional edge on the west coast of Ireland, it is set in a globally significant hub for technology, innovation and creativity providing a unique blend of regional context and global outlook. The vision of the School’s new four-year strategy is to make a global impact for the public good by addressing grand challenges through its teaching, research and influence on public policy.
These grand challenges include digitalisation; global and economic development, innovation, accountability and governance; health and well-being; social inclusion and equality; sustainability, climate and environment.
STRATEGIC PRIORITIES Developed at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the new strategy addresses the significant challenges for all University activity throughout the pandemic, but also the new opportunities provided, including leveraging innovations in online and blended teaching. Developed at a time when everyone was re-examining taken-for-granted assumptions about the way we work, the strategy harnesses learnings from the pandemic to ensure the School retains innovations in teaching and learning to design and deliver an engaging and high-quality student experience in a changing external environment.
Cairnes Building NUI Galway
The School looks to engage in research that positively impacts society, business and public policy; invest in and engage with external stakeholders to develop collaborative partnerships and create value and impact beyond academia; act as a catalyst for the business and entrepreneurship ecosystem in the region; and provide a globally diverse and culturally rich learning and working experiences, embracing internationalisation in its activities.
GROWTH AND EXPANSION The School has grown substantially in recent years with over 2,800 students and 120 staff. Expansion of the programme offerings, student body and academic staff continues, with further recruitment of 16 academics to be hired in Q1 of 2022. Theses roles span across the five Disciplines in the School—Accountancy & Finance, Business Information Systems, Economics, Management, and Marketing—to support its new strategic vision and ambitions.
Professor Alma McCarthy Head of J.E. Cairnes School of Business & Economics
“Our school is committed to delivering value to all of our stakeholders and especially to students, external business, industry and policy partners, community and society. We are committed to attracting, retaining and developing globally talented academic staff in areas aligned with our strategic priorities,” says Prof McCarthy.
Across the broad range of roles, from Lecturer in Business Analytics and Society to a Lecturer in Economics: Health and Well-being, all are guided by the adherence to the School’s mission and values, as well as the UN SDGs. “Our staff are our most important resource, and their skills, expertise, commitment and motivation will be the engine that will drive the achievement of the School’s 2021–2025 Strategic Plan.”
Saddle up and save with Cyclescheme
Cyclescheme offers employers and bike retailers a fluid online platform to help employees get cycling with ease.
Arecent survey* reported that 85% of Irish adults are concerned about public transport due to the pandemic, while 89% of Irish adults agree that commuting on a bike would save money. Coupled with the government’s commitment to upgrading and installing new bikeways nationwide, it is evident that there is a real focus on encouraging people to start or return to cycling.
It’s a perfect opportunity for businesses to ensure they have an efficient Cycle to Work Scheme in place to allow their employees to opt for a safe, cost-efficient commute. With Cyclescheme, employees can save up to 52% on the cost of their bike and equipment up to the value of €1,250, and €1,500 for e-bikes and pedelecs.
With over 300 participating retailers nationwide, Cyclescheme presents a fluid, online platform where employers using the scheme can track employee applications, review, and approve applications, and apply employee salary sacrifice agreements and payroll adjustments via a centralised software platform, MyScheme, with a participating business assigned its own unique URL. Additional features include a full suite of customisable marketing collateral for a business to tailor with its own logo, including posters and email templates. Bike retailers who join the 300 already participating in Cyclescheme will receive a unique URL which allows for transparent reporting on bikes/pedelecs ordered and pending bike orders that have been lodged with their store, with visibility at any time on payments. When an employee applies for a quote with a bike retailer and submits the details via MyScheme, the transaction is confirmed against that retailer only, which guarantees the bike retailer that sale. Dedicated account managers are assigned to employers and retailers alike who join Cyclescheme.
For more information, visit www.cyclescheme.ie. *Survey commissioned by One4all Rewards and carried out by Coyne Research of 1,000 adults aged 18+ years, 2020
Spread the cost of Christmas 2022
The One4all Employee Christmas Club is an employee benefit with real value for your staff.
Allocate an agreed amount - deducted monthly from take-home salary Contributions are made via payroll – no queues, no hidden fees, no stress View balance online at any time – unique username and password One4all will add 2% top up on all savings Funds are released on 25th November or date agreed with Employer
Visit one4allrewards.ie for more information
Putting the ‘life’ back into ‘work-life’
Grafter, Dublin’s newest workspace provider, partners with hospitality brand Press Up Group to provide a unique range of perks to members.
Grafter founder and CEO Emma Kennedy is bringing something unique to the market, with a fullyrounded approach to providing for all the elements on the work-life balance matrix. Motivated to create a work-lifestyle brand that put the ‘life’ back into ‘work-life’, she approached the leading hospitality group Press Up and with their backing created an offering that not only delivers top quality flexible workspaces, but offers the best membership perks in the market.
Renting a Grafter workspace comes with an exclusive Membership Card which gives access to a range of unique meeting and event spaces, restaurants, bars, gyms, cinemas and more, from the Press Up Group’s portfolio. Imagine delivering a presentation in the iconic landmark Stella Cinema in Rathmines, stunningly restored with a decor reminiscent of the glamour of the 1920s.
Ben Barclay, CEO, Press Up Hospitality Group, says, “We are delighted to provide Grafter with a truly unique offering for their clients across the Press Up Group portfolio. They can host presentations in the Stella, meetings in our event spaces, access the POWER Gym for a workout and enjoy catering from any of our 30-plus restaurants. Through this exclusive partnership, Grafter clients will have the Group’s venues at their fingertips.” HEART OF DUBLIN Grafter’s first office location in Dublin, Forty-One Leeson Street has been sensitively restored with a €1.5m investment after laying vacant for 40 years. The beautiful Georgian building has been brought back to life with original period features conserved, to create 5,000 sq. ft of workspace in a prime location adjacent to St Stephen’s Green, that will house 100 Grafter members.
The second opening in the heart of Georgian Dublin, Ten Ely Place, is the former design studio of internationally renowned Irish Designer John Rocha. It has been refurbished to an exceptional standard, providing a mix of large period rooms suitable for open plan spaces, customised meeting rooms and executive offices.
FIRST CLASS FACILITIES Emma Kennedy, CEO of Grafter, says, “There is constantly a wide variety of end users entering the Dublin market, so competition for the best quality office spaces is intense. Great care and attention to detail has been taken at design stage of both Forty-One Leeson Street and Ten Ely Place, to deliver what will be a new standard of Georgian office buildings.” Within the walls of heritage buildings, Grafter present the best of contemporary design and modern technology. The office spaces offer the most up-to-date facilities with hi-lo desks, which can be raised to standing desk level. Members can take advantage of unlimited tea and coffee, video conferencing and a professional onsite team to assist with all their business needs, whether it be a desk for a day, or an office suite for a team.
CEO of Grafter, Emma Kennedy
For more see grafteroffices.com
25 Years of Making a Difference
As the Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation celebrate their 25th birthday, we take a closer look at this incredible Irish charity and the difference they have made to local families since 1997.
The Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation was set up by Jonathan Irwin and his wife Mary Ann O’Brien, following the birth of their son Jack, who suffered a severe brain trauma. At that time there were no supports in place outside of the hospital. These pioneering parents brought their son home, with the care and support of local nurses, until he passed away aged 22 months. Jack’s parents vowed that no other families should have to walk this difficult care journey alone and so Jack’s care plan became the blueprint that is still going strong today.
CARE MODEL Since 1997, almost 2,700 children and their families have been able to bring their special child home with the support of Jack & Jill’s highly skilled team of nurses who direct a fast and flexible, home-based care model that works. With hospitals under increased pressure, it is now more important than ever for Jack & Jill to keep going, with 402 VIP children under their wing today. The Jack & Jill service is an ongoing commitment up to the child’s sixth birthday and a bond that lasts forever. There is no waiting list or means test and this service operates seven days a week.
“Our mission is to empower parents to care for their child at home, in communities across Ireland, because we really believe that there is no care like home care for a sick child,” says CEO Carmel Doyle. Liaison nurse Eilín Ní Mhurchú with Olivia Jennings from Cork.
THE GIFT OF TIME Life is uncertain for these children. Their conditions are rare and prognosis uncertain. However, what we do know for sure is that they do better at home, where their family want them, for whatever time they have. These are ordinary parents, facing extraordinary demands and they can do it with support from Jack & Jill which is a ‘gift of time’—time to do the normal things like shopping, catching up with a friend, spending time with the other siblings, or simply having a nap to recharge— safe in the knowledge that their sick child is well cared for at home.
A very important part of the service is end-of-life support and that is provided to any child under six, regardless of the diagnosis. Jack & Jill nurses help the parents to bring their child home, even for just one night or one week, to pass away at home surrounded by their loved ones.
The support of local business is more important than ever, and the money raised through the ‘County Champion’ programme is a real ‘Gift of Time’. A once-off donation of just €900 will sponsor a month’s nursing care for a local child.
To find out more visit www.jackandjill.ie or contact Tina Priestley on 087-6487536.
Arts at the Heart of Drogheda
The Droichead Arts Centre puts the arts at the heart of the local community across Drogheda, East Meath and Louth.
Droichead Arts Centre is a multidisciplinary arts centre in the heart of Drogheda Town, and a member of Drogheda Chamber. Housed over two buildings, we provide an extensive curated arts and cultural programme of theatre, music, film, visual arts, opera, dance, comedy, literature, family and children’s events, outreach and festivals. Our purpose is to put art at the heart of people’s lives and ambitions. Our mission is to be a creative hub, nurturing, presenting and promoting art of, by and for the many diverse communities across Drogheda, East Meath and Louth. Droichead Arts Centre actively supports artists and arts organisations through residencies, bursaries and other bespoke supports, again with a focus on the North East Region. In line with government guidelines, we are slowly easing restrictions and increasing our capacity in a safe and considered way. Programmes include our Leanbh Children’s Festival, sponsored by Flogas; our Theatre Club featuring award-winning productions, and new works in progress, our First Solo Awards, and our current exhibition featuring ten artists from the Borrowed Ground Collective. In partnership with Love Drogheda Business Improvement District Scheme and Louth County Council, and with funding from the Arts Council under In the Open | Faoin Spéir Initiative, we are producing DRAWDA, a curated multidisciplinary public arts programme taking place in Drogheda, since September 2021, running until April 2022. Drawing on Drogheda’s rich heritage, mythology and architecture, the first strand sees the creation of six murals in public spaces.
For more info see droichead.com
press play...be inspired COME & VISIT
droichead.com | 041 98 33946
Tony Hynes of CPC.ie
Best-In-Class Transport Training
An Award-winning Year for Transport Training Company CPC.ie
The last year has seen CPC.ie named All-Star Transport Training Company of the Year by the All-Ireland Business Foundation, then going on to pick up the Public Sector Magazine Excellence in Transport Training Award. Finally, founder and CEO Tony Hynes was awarded the All-Star Transport Business Person of the Year 2021.
The company specialises exclusively in Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) training, with 30 training centres nationwide and more than 22,000 successful students trained every year.
Having been in business for 30 years, CPC.ie has established itself as Ireland’s largest CPC training provider, and has now officially been recognised for its conduct in the areas of performance, commitment, trust and customer-centricity.
ALL-STAR ACCREDITATION Business All-Star Accreditation is an independently verified standard mark for indigenous businesses, based on rigorous selection criteria. It is overseen by the prestigious All-Ireland Business Foundation (AIBF), an autonomous national accreditation body tasked with enterprise development and the promotion of best-in-class in Irish business. It includes an adjudication panel chaired by Dr Briga Hynes of the University of Limerick, and CEO of the Global Institute of Logistics, Kieran Ring.
The Foundation actively engages and supports its network through peer-dialogue, collaboration, mentoring and enterprise development activities. Companies are qualified for accreditation by completing an enterprise audit and are identified by their use of the AIBF’s Business All-Star Marque.
BEST IN CLASS Speaking about the recognition as an All-Star company, CPC.ie founder and CEO Tony Hynes said: “On behalf of the CPC.ie team, I am delighted to receive this Accreditation from the All-Ireland Business Foundation. To be named All-Star transport Training Company is recognition of the hard work that the CPC.ie team puts into providing a best-in-class service for our loyal customers.”
Kieran Ring, Deputy Chair on the adjudication board, also said of the announcement: “The Accreditation is in recognition of Tony’s outstanding contribution to the transport industry in Ireland. Furthermore, we wish to recognise Tony’s track record in establishing CPC.ie, Ireland’s leading CPC training company. Tony Hynes is hereby included in the AIBF Register of Irish Business Excellence.”
All-Ireland Business Foundation MD Kapil Khanna said the accreditation, which is now held by more than 500 firms, is needed by the thousands of small and medium businesses operating to their own standards but with nothing to measure them by.
“We evaluate a company’s background, trustworthiness and performance, and we speak to customers, employees and vendors,” he said. “We also anonymously approach the company as a customer and report back on the experience. The business goes through at least two interviews and is scored on every part of the process against set metrics.”
To learn more about CPC.ie, visit their All-Star showcase page at aibf.ie/times/profile/cpc-ie
DHL Express Ireland – Delivering Healthcare to the World
Learnings from the logistics sector - distributing key pandemic management equipment and medicines, will help us to be better prepared to handle future public health emergencies.
In the largest global health crisis for 100 years, logistics and supply chain management have played a vital role to ensure the availability and distribution of key pandemic management equipment, from PPE to vaccines. From the beginning, DHL was an essential part of the response strategy. In September 2021, a key milestone was achieved when 1 billion vaccine doses were delivered by DHL to more than 160 countries. The recently published DHL white paper, “Revisiting Pandemic Resilience”, sheds light on what the sector has learned from the race against COVID-19 in order to be better prepared to handle future public health emergencies.
“Logistics and supply chain management play a key role in pandemic management. Keeping supply chains running and ensuring delivery for essential health supplies provided valuable lessons,” explains Katja Busch, Chief Commercial Officer, DHL. “We rolled out new dedicated services for the vaccine distribution at unprecedented speed. Now we need to remain prepared for high patient and vaccine volumes and maintain logistics infrastructure and capacity, by providing a stable and well-equipped platform for the years to come.”
Achievements across R&D, production, and supply chain management are helping us get through the crisis as a global community, including developing a vaccine five times faster than any other vaccine in history and ramping up production in record time. Even with cold chain requirements of up to -70°C, logistics rolled out distribution three times faster than usual to get the life-saving vaccines to patients worldwide.
The global vaccination campaign represents a crucial instrument in the fight against the virus. To reach high immunisation levels, around 10 billion vaccine doses will be required worldwide by the end of 2021. Many countries and territories have less-developed infrastructure, making the rollout more difficult. To speed up vaccine distribution, the following areas need to be looked at:
• Industries and nations must foster collaboration. • For safe inbound supply flows, proactive transport-capacity management and sustainable return flows for packaging are needed. This is particularly critical as more than 95% of global COVID-19 vaccine doses are produced in just eight countries and need to be delivered worldwide. • Locally tailored last-mile, ground distribution models with a focus on strategic location of warehouses, the synchronisation of vaccines and ancillaries flow as well as the number and location of vaccination points.
In the coming years a further 7-9 billion doses of vaccines are necessary annually. Planning for the future it is essential to identify and prevent health crises early through active partnerships, expanded global warning systems, an integrated epidemic-preventions agenda and targeted R&D investments. To facilitate a speedy rollout of medication, governments and industries should employ ‘ever-warm’ manufacturing capacity, blueprint research, production, and procurement plans, as well as expand local deployment capabilities.
If you would like to speak to one of our Life Sciences and Healthcare Experts to see how DHL can help your business and its supply chain, please contact Richard Pierce at Richard.Pierce@dhl.com or 086 0318638.
Could you tell us about Changemakers with Clare McKenna and why you created this podcast?
Changemakers with Clare McKenna talks to people who stand up, speak out or challenge us to think a litt le diff erently. I’ve always been fascinated by people who don’t just think something, they actually get up and do it. There are so many incredible acti vists and advocates working on a range of worthy topics that deserve more airti me but I’m also very interested in the people themselves, what drives and moti vates them and what led them to do what they do.
InBUSINESS SPOKE WITH TV AND RADIO PRESENTER CLARE MCKENNA, HOST OF THE CHANGEMAKERS WITH CLARE MCKENNA PODCAST, ABOUT BEING OPEN TO LEARNING AND HOW TO MAKE A BENEFICIAL CHANGE.
What is the message/goal of the Changemakers with Clare McKenna podcast?
I don’t want it to preach at people or have people listen to it and feel less than, that they ‘should’ be doing more. ‘Should’ can be such a paralysing term. Sensiti ve topics provoke such polarising opinions and oft en the real stories at the heart get lost and people are afraid to ask questi ons and learn. I want the podcast to be a resource where they can learn.
The podcast challenges your listeners to think differently. Have your own views and opinions changed during the making of the podcast?
Sarah Sproule spoke about removing the sti gma around sex educati on for children and families. She blew my mind when she made me see that it’s so much bigger than removing embarrassment around ‘the talk’ but raising future members of a society that is truly inclusive. That’s the blueprint for so many societal issues and what we can do to improve them. That was a massive learning for me.
Changemakers with Clare McKenna is an Acast Media Production and is available to download online. What is the fi rst step your listeners can take to make a benefi cial change?
Have an open mind and empathy for others. You don’t have to agree with everyone but try to be open to another point of view, to learning and evolving your opinion.
Clare McKenna
What can we expect from Changemakers with Clare McKenna in the future?
I want to speak to a diverse range of people. Quite oft en it can be the same type of person talking about a range of topics. I also wanted to cover topics people might never have heard of such as ethical porn, the role of art in acti vism and looking at parts of the world where positi ve change is happening to see how we can learn from this experience.
EAR TO THE GROUND
InBUSINESS RECOMMENDS THREE PODCASTS TO SUBSCRIBE TO THIS QUARTER.
MADE IN IRELAND THE TWO NORRIES
Hosted by Timmy Long and James Leonard, The Two Norries is a weekly podcast that focuses on trauma, mental health, addiction, prison systems, recovery and access to education.
NOT TO BE MISSED THE MAKING OF A DETECTIVE
What exactly happens on the hunt for a killer? Garda detective, Pat Marry provides an account of how justice was served, with interviews from victims’ friends and family, Marry’s former colleagues, and The Irish Sun’s Stephen Breen help tell these stories one by one.
THE BUSINESS PICK THE DIARY OF A CEO
Ex CEO of Social Chain Steven Bartlett shares his insights and deep, dark thoughts with guests from different backgrounds, experiences and learnings to give a behindthe-scenes view into being an entrepreneur.
