Welcome Address: Collaboration and Cooperation

WELCOME ADDRESS:

COLLABORATION AND COOPERATION

Welcome back to the second edition of the Fingal Network Magazine where we cover a range of business supports, showcase the diverse businesses and industries in Fingal, and highlight interesting economic activity taking place across the region. The feedback we received following the first edition was really positive, so I would like to congratulate the team on their efforts in launching this new publication.

The pandemic and its consequences are still very much with us. Confirmation by Government that it will extend key COVID supports for businesses and employees impacted by the pandemic has been needed and will come as a relief to those who continue to experience significant uncertainty.

In the previous edition I spoke about the importance of resilience and working together as a community to make the most of opportunities available. I feel that now we are moving on, and thought I would concentrate on the positive indicators we are seeing, on collaboration to support business, and our community involvement.

Thankfully the summer months have brought a slightly brighter future for many of the people and businesses most affected by the pandemic. The recent resumption of indoor dining is another big milestone as society and the economy adapts to living with Covid-19. Following what felt like never-ending setbacks, the return comes at a crucial time for businesses as they do their best to get up and running to make the most of the end of the summer. The Chamber has had a particular focus on supporting the hospitality and tourism industries and you can read the roundtable discussion feature with some of our members in this edition.

As someone who works in the Maldron Hotel on the Dublin Airport Campus, it is fantastic to see the recent pickup in activity around the terminal buildings. As a small open economy, celebrated for the ‘Céad Míle Fáilte’ or ‘a hundred thousand welcomes’ of our people, it is incredibly important for Fingal, and indeed the whole of island’s tourism sector, that we increase the number of visitors we welcome here in a safe manner.

In 2019, Dublin Airport was setting passenger record numbers month after month. The sooner we can get incoming tourist numbers back up the better it will be for everyone in the affected industries, from aviation to hospitality and related services.

Fingal Chamber is part of a collaborative group called The Greater Dublin Chamber Alliance which comprises four of Ireland’s foremost Chambers, Fingal Chamber, South Dublin Chamber, County Kildare Chamber and Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Chamber.

Over the summer the Greater Dublin Chamber Alliance agreed a new strategic partnership with Adare Human Resource Management to provide expert advice and guidance to support members with the safe return to the workplace.

We’ve seen in recent weeks how fluid the current situation is, and the impact Government decisions are having on businesses. Employers are faced with so many challenges, including ensuring the future viability of their business and knowing that members have expert HR, employment law and health and safety advice available to them will provide support when they need it most.

During the summer, the Chamber Chief Executive and I took a trip to the wonderful Skerries Mills tourist attraction to meet with the newly elected Mayor of Fingal Cllr Seána Ó’Rodaigh. Councillor Seána Ó Rodaigh, represents the Balbriggan Local Electoral Area, and was first elected as a councillor in 2019, and is based in Skerries, where she works as a teacher.

The Mayor of Fingal shared her vision for her time in the role and discussed some of her keen areas of interest such as mental health services and the arts. Cllr Ó Rodaigh expressed how she wants to ensure that we re-emerge from the lockdown as a better, more inclusive society and hopes the community spirit witnessed over the past 16 months will carry on. Cllr Ó Rodaigh also noted some of the recent positive changes such as remote working and new microenterprises with a local community focus.

We briefed the Mayor on the recent collaboration projects between the Chamber and the Local Authority, and also offered assistance, where appropriate, to Cllr Ó Rodaigh during her tenure.

We also engaged with the Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development with special responsibility for Community Development and Charities, Joe O’Brien TD for a special online event to announce over €15,000 in grants to community-led projects and activities under the new Fingal Chamber Community Fund.

The Fingal Chamber Community Fund is targeted at supporting communities on developing initiatives in a variety of categories such as environmental and sustainability, health and wellbeing, and social inclusion and community development.

Financed by supporters and contributions from the Chamber itself, the fund is set up to award small grants of between €1,000 and €5,000 yearly. Despite being in its first year, the Fingal Chamber Community Fund was heavily oversubscribed, receiving over 120 submissions collectively requesting more than €365,000. The Chamber received applications from voluntary community groups, established clubs, local charities, and residents’ associations from local communities, amongst other organisations.

A total of 11 grants have been paid out to fund activities including a coaching cultural awareness project, a girls’ football academy, a gender diversity programme for local radio, ambulance equipment, and a youth employability programme.

We recently received the outcome reports on these projects and the impact they have made in our communities has been fantastic. I urge any business who would like to get involved in supporting this work, to please contact us to see how we can make an even greater impact together. For more information, please visit www.fingalchamber.ie/community

As the Chamber has been active in collaborating with key partners and supporting community groups with their commendable work, I believe this collaborative and cooperative is an important approach going forward, not only for the Chamber but for all businesses.

Andrea Molloy

President