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Tuesday, March 21, 2023Is Racism Rife in Irish Workplaces? What is your Business doing to combat discrimination?
The UN established the 21st of March 2022 as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and now in its second year it is a timely reminder for Irish Employers to consider the application of their Dignity at Work and anti-harassment policies as well as promoting equal opportunities in the workplace. Further steps should be taken by Employers to have in place diversity and inclusion policies and initiatives that prevent any workplace racism or discrimination in their Organisation.
Tuesday, March 14, 2023Breaking Barriers: Irish Business Promoting Gender Equality
This month, we celebrate International Women’s Day on the 8th of March. It’s an occasion that is hugely significant globally and provides us with a great opportunity to acknowledge the huge contributions made by women in the social, economic, cultural and political sphere. It’s a great opportunity for Irish HR professionals and Business owners to reflect on diversity and inclusion initiatives in their organisation. It’s also a good time to ensure compliance with the legislative protections and codes of
Thursday, March 09, 2023Entrepreneurs share inspiring stories, insights and tips at Behind The Business 2023 event
Fingal Chamber held its much-awaited 'Behind the Business' event on March 8th, 2023. The event, which took place at the Grand Hotel, Malahide, brought together three female entrepreneurs from various industries to share their experiences and insights. The event featured a panel discussion, moderated by Fingal Chamber's communications manager, David Branagan. The panelists included Lorraine Heskin, Owner of Gourmet Food Parlour, Shona McManus, Chief Executive of Osborne Recruitment, and Lauren McDonald,
Wednesday, March 08, 2023Table Quiz in Aid of Ukraine Orphanage
We are working with IACI (Irish Air Cargo Institute) & Swords Lions Club to raise funds for a Ukrainian orphanage. We will be hosting a TABLE QUIZ in the Maldron Hotel at Dublin airport @ 8pm on Saturday 25th March. We are looking for both sponsorship and/or raffle prizes to ensure that the most money can be raised on the night. You can, hopefully, take a table (tables of 4 people @ €120.00 per table) or you can sponsor a prize. We would hope to offer A first prize of €400.00A second prize
Tuesday, March 07, 2023Chambers Ireland Statement on “Current Challenges for SMEs” in the Oireachtas Enterprise Committee
Speaking at the Joint Oireachtas Enterprise Trade and Employment Committee this morning (1/3/2023) Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot, said: “Businesses are fit for growth, but they are constrained by the lack of talent, the lack of housing, the lack of infrastructure. The greatest challenge that our members face is the lack of available talent which is driven by affordable and appropriate housing being unavailable across most of the country. “We are growing as an economy, but we are not
Monday, March 06, 2023February Passenger Numbers Once Again Above Pre-Covid Levels at Dublin & Cork Airports
+ Dublin Airport Served Record 2.06 Million Passengers in February + 157k Passengers Travelled Through Cork Airport + Dublin & Cork Airports Cut Energy Use By Almost One Fifth Dublin, Monday, March 6: February was another record month at both Dublin and Cork airports with 2.06 Million and 157,000 passengers travelling through respectively, according to the airport's operator daa. The number of passengers through Dublin Airport in February was 3% higher than in February 2019 and 1% higher than in
Tuesday, February 28, 2023Hundreds of Jobs on Offer at Dublin Airport Jobs Fair This Weekend
Hundreds of great jobs will be on offer this weekend when Dublin Airport operator daa holds a two-day jobs fair for prospective candidates. The Jobs Fair will take place at the Radisson Hotel, Dublin Airport on Friday March 3 (2pm-5pm) and Saturday March 4 (10am-1pm). The free-to-attend daa Jobs Fair will provide attendees with an opportunity to explore the many exciting and varied roles that are on offer at Dublin Airport. More than 12 other companies operating at the airport will also be at the Jobs
Tuesday, February 28, 2023Fingal Chamber welcomes Northern Ireland Protocol announcement and calls on all stakeholders to support it
Speaking after the announcement Anthony Cooney, Chief Executive of Fingal Chamber, said: “The announcement today on the Northern Ireland protocol is a significant step forward in regularising and strengthening the economic relationship between the United Kingdom and the EU, while also maximising economic opportunities across the island of Ireland. Removing the uncertainty that businesses have faced, notwithstanding the Trade and Cooperation agreement signed on 30 December 2020, should facilitate growth by
Friday, February 24, 2023Illegal Drone Activity Around Dublin Airport Needs To Be Urgently Addressed
Ireland’s reputation will be seriously damaged if urgent measures are not implemented to further address illegal drone activity around Dublin Airport, that’s according to Fingal Chamber CEO, Anthony Cooney. “Flight operations have been suspended on four occasions in the past number of weeks and this type of disruption is simply not sustainable for any international airport. There is a worrying lack of urgency around this issue and the Minister for Transport needs to immediately press ahead with
Tuesday, February 21, 2023Transparent and Predictable Working Conditions: How to Comply with New Obligations
As of December 16th, 2022, the EU Directive on Transparent and Predictable Working Conditions was transposed into legislation amending a number of pieces of employment legislation and introducing new legal obligations for employers that require immediate attention. Set out below are details of the new obligations for employers and best practice guidance for implementation. Terms and Conditions of Employment 1. There are now two important deadlines that employers must adhere to: the 5-day statement
Thursday, February 16, 2023Chambers Ireland welcomes announcement of the St. Patrick’s Day ministerial missions
Speaking on 14 February 2023, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot said, “We warmly welcome the 2023 St Patrick’s Day Programme, which will see extensive international engagement to promote Ireland as a place to live, work, trade and invest in. Over the past few years our economy has faced, and continues to face numerous geopolitical challenges beyond our control. It is vital we develop friendships and partnerships in different global markets to showcase Ireland as an outstanding place to do
Monday, February 13, 2023Hundreds of Events Announced for Local Enterprise Week 2023
Small businesses and budding entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to sample hundreds of events helping them to start or grow their business as part of this year’s Local Enterprise Week. The initiative of the Local Enterprise Offices, supported by Enterprise Ireland and the local authorities, takes place from the 6th-10th March this year across the country. While there are hundreds of events taking place, there are 5 National Spotlight events that are available for free online, with one taking place
Thursday, February 09, 2023NTA Award €17.11m Funding to Fingal Active Travel Projects
Fingal County Council has welcomed the announcement by the Department of Transport, of €17.11m in funding, which has been granted to 52 Active Travel projects across Fingal. The Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan has confirmed that the National Transport Authority (NTA) has allocated these funds as part of an overall €290 million to be spent on 1,200 on walking and cycling infrastructure projects across Ireland this year. Projects to receive funding in Fingal include Safer Routes to School spread across
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Tuesday, February 07, 2023January Sees Record Passenger Numbers at Dublin Airport
Dublin Airport enjoyed its busiest January ever with just over 2.1 million passengers travelling through during the opening month of the year. The number of passengers travelling through Dublin Airport in January was 2% higher than in January 2019 - the previous record January - and more than double (113%) the numbers seen in January 2022. The early part of January saw some very busy days at Dublin Airport as thousands of people travelled home after the Christmas break. Nevertheless, security screening
Tuesday, February 07, 2023Women Entrepreneurs called on to have their say on business in Europe
Women Entrepreneurs called on to have their say on business in Europe. Chambers Ireland, in partnership with Eurochambres (the Association of European Chambers of Commerce), has launched a new European-wide survey on the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs. The last survey, conducted in 2021, captured data from 536 female-led businesses across Europe and focused specifically on the impact that Covid-19 was having on women in business. From an Irish perspective, the data showed that 57% of
Tuesday, February 07, 2023Workplace Romances: Are not always smooth sailings, what are the key considerations and best-practice guidance for employers navigating managing love-struck employees?
Love is in the air and as we head into Valentine's season, it's worth considering how employers navigate the circumstances where two employees are in a romantic relationship. Given the amount of time that colleagues spend together while at work, workplace relationships are not uncommon. A 2022 study from the United States found that 33% US workers report that they're currently involved or have been involved in a workplace romance. However, several challenges may arise which can have a detrimental
Thursday, February 02, 2023Dublin Airport To Welcome 310,000 Passengers This Bank Holiday Weekend
Irish travellers are set to take advantage of the first Bank Holiday weekend of 2023 with around 310,000 passengers set to travel through Dublin Airport over the coming days. Over the five days between Friday February 3 and Monday February 6, around 160,000 people will fly out of Dublin Airport, with around 150,000 due to arrive. The strong figures suggest that the thirst for travel in Ireland remains strong, with many seeking to avail of the long Bank Holiday weekend to get away for some winter sun, a
Monday, January 30, 2023Two Recent Employment Law Changes Enacted - 2023 Know your obligations!
Did you know there have been two significant pieces of legislation that have recently come into effect in Ireland? 1. Statutory Sick Pay 2. Transparent and Predictable Working Conditions 1. Statutory Sick Pay Ireland has seen a surge in Covid-19, influenza, and RSV over recent weeks which thankfully according to the Chief Medical Officer has now passed its peak. However, respiratory viruses will continue to circulate which has implications on employers dealing with sick employees. There was no
Thursday, January 26, 2023daa Staff Give 3 Irish Charities 390,000 Reasons to Smile
The fundraising efforts of staff at airport operating company daa, supported by passengers at Dublin Airport, saw cheques presented today totalling €390,000 to three charities following a number of successful fundraising activities over the past three years. The three charities - St. Francis Hospice, The Mater Foundation, Feed Our Homeless – were each presented with a cheque for €130,000 at a special ceremony at Dublin Airport on Wednesday morning. This takes the total amount raised by daa staff since
Tuesday, January 24, 2023What is the impact of the Employee Well Being on your Business?
Do you feel the January Blues this year? The third Monday in January has been branded in the media as ‘Blue Monday’, the most depressing day of the year. In our article below, Michelle McDonagh, senior HR expert from Adare Human Resource Management, analyses the impact that mental health can have on Irish businesses and considers some supports that companies should implement to promote mental health well-being in the workplace. Firstly, was Blue Monday really the most depressing day of the
Wednesday, January 18, 2023Fingal Moves Forward on Climate Change Actions
Fingal County Council last night presented its third annual progress report on the Climate Change Action Plan to Fingal Councillors. The Plan sets out four key targets and 133 actions that the Council will undertake in the areas of energy & buildings, transport, flood resilience, nature-based solutions and resource management. All departments of Fingal County Council are responsible for the successful rollout of actions within the Climate Change Action Plan. The Climate Change Action Plan 2019-2024 (CCAP)
Wednesday, January 11, 2023Blue Monday, what is the impact of the ‘Most Depressing Day of the Year’ on your Employees?
The third Monday in January, which is, January 16th this year, is imminent. What is so significant about this Monday, you might ask? It has been branded in the media as ‘Blue Monday’, the most depressing day of the year. In our article below, Michelle McDonagh, senior HR expert from Adare Human Resource Management, analyses the impact that mental health can have on Irish businesses and considers some supports that companies should implement to promote mental health well-being in the
Saturday, December 24, 2022Fingal Chamber Chief Executive End of Year Statement
Dear Members, I am delighted to announce that 2022 was arguably Fingal Chamber’s most successful year ever and we are looking forward with enthusiasm to 2023. Some highlights of the year included the Chamber attracting almost 50 new members, introducing our bi-annual business sentiment surveys, appointing a new Head of Public Affairs and hosting some first time high profile events. The re-location of our Chamber offices to No. 2 Dublin Airport Central was also a significant event for us placing us in
Wednesday, December 21, 2022Chambers Ireland strongly supports the increased ambition of the Climate Action Plan 2023
Chambers Ireland strongly supports the increased ambition of the Climate Action Plan 2023 Speaking today 21after the release of the Climate Action Plan 2023, Ian Talbot, Chambers Ireland’s Chief Executive said: “Putting our Climate Action Plan on a statutory footing is an important move by government, and the fixing of legally binding targets for individual departments is another essential move. “Chambers Ireland are strong supporters of the Sustainable Development Goals, and Climate Action is one that
Tuesday, December 20, 20222022 Recap of HR & Employment Law
Michelle McDonagh, Consulting and Client RelationshipManager, Adare Human Resource Management As we close out a very busy 2022, we reflect on all the upcoming HR and Employment law developments thatare impacting Irish businesses. The2022 Recap of HR & Employment Lawsets out the updates and business obligations in more detail for you. The updates include, the new Codes of Practice on Harassment and Sexual Harassment, effective from March 2022, outlined new recommendations for Irish
Monday, December 12, 2022Fingal Chamber raises €5,500 for the Down Syndrome Centre Swords
Fingal Chamber was pleased to present the Down Syndrome Centre Swords with €5,500 which was raised by members and attendees at the Fingal Business Awards 2022 hosted in November. The Chamber organised a Charity Raffle as part of the Gala Awards Presentation Evening and an array of prizes were generously donated by member businesses to support the fundraiser. The Down Syndrome Centre was the chosen charity partner for 2022. Their newly opened branch in Swords is a state-of-the-art custom-designed
Wednesday, December 07, 2022Statutory Sick Leave will be effective from 1st January 2023
Michelle McDonagh, Consulting and Client Relationship Manager, Adare Human Resource Management The Sick Leave Act 2022, which was passed by the Oireachtas in July 2022, will come into effect from 1st January 2023. The new scheme entitles employees to paid sick leave from their employer as well as State illness benefits. The new statutory sick pay scheme will be phased in over a four-year period. Initially, employees will be entitled to three days paid sick leave for the first year (2023),
Tuesday, December 06, 2022Dublin Airport Passenger Numbers Reached 98% of 2019 Levels in November
Just over 2.2 million passengers travelled through Dublin Airport in November, an increase of 800,000 passengers when compared to 2021 and 98% of the passenger numbers seen pre-pandemic in November 2019. More than 25.8 million passengers travelled through Dublin Airport in the first eleven months of 2022, representing an increase of 250% versus last year and around 85% of 2019 levels. In November, passenger volumes to and from Continental Europe increased by 376,000 versus the same month last year. That
Tuesday, December 06, 2022Adare Human Resource Management Release 6.2 HR Barometer Report
Michelle McDonagh, Consulting and Client RelationshipManager, Adare Human Resource Management The latest Adare Human Resource Management HR Barometer Report results show us that Organisations have transitioned from a reactionary short-term planning position to strategies built on the understanding that agility is core to their business success. In many ways, recent events have breathed a new lease of life into how Organisations now see the value of human capital. This report is the most comprehensive
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Tuesday, November 29, 2022Fingal Chamber Publishes Second Business Sentiment Survey 2022
Staff retention and recruitment continue to be the biggest challenge facing Fingal business.Fingal’s competitiveness is at risk due to housing availability and soaring energy costs.70% of businesses have implemented energy-saving costs.A positive outlook is predicted with many businesses expecting to see an increase in staff numbers, training, revenue, and profits. Fingal Chamber has published the findings of its second Business Sentiment Survey of 2022. The survey which focused on business challenges,
Tuesday, November 22, 2022Insight SFI Research Centre for Data Analytics, Dublin City University
The Insight SFI Research Centre for Data Analytics is one of the largest data analytics centres in Europe. We are located in a number of the top ranking Irish universities includingDublin City University. Our aim is to help individuals and organisations derive value from data by enabling better decision-making. We offer a national innovation ecosystem to advance Ireland's digital transformation, enabling businesses to make better all-round decisions, backed by data. All of our research is informed by our
Friday, November 18, 2022Lorraine Heskin wins Business Person of the Year at the Fingal Business Awards
Lorraine Heskin, Founder and CEO of Gourmet Food Parlour has been awarded the Business Person of the Year at the Fingal Business Awards 2022, held at the Crowne Plaza Dublin Airport in Santry on Friday, the 18th of November 2022. The award honours a distinguished business person in the Fingal region who demonstrates exemplary business achievements and exceptional leadership in bringing significant benefits to their business for employees, customers, suppliers and the community. Hailing from a small
Tuesday, November 08, 2022New Law Protects Employees’ Tips & Service Charges
New Law Protects Employees’ Tips & Service Charges Michelle McDonagh, Consulting and Client Relationship Manager, Adare Human Resource Management The Payment of Wages (Amendment)(Tips and Gratuities) Act 2022, which was signed into law on the 20th July 2022, is set to be introduced on 1st December 2022. The Government brought forward this legislation to strengthen the rights of Employees, prohibiting the use of tips and gratuities to make up contractual rates of pay. Therefore, from the 1st of
Wednesday, October 26, 2022Dublin Airport to Welcome 350,000 Passengers this Bank Holiday Weekend
Around 350,000 passengers are expected to travel through Dublin Airport this October Bank Holiday weekend, from Friday, October 28 to Monday, October 31, 2022. Almost 190,000 passengers are due to depart from Dublin Airport this weekend as many Irish families avail of the final Bank Holiday weekend before Christmas to make a trip overseas. "More than 2,200 flights are due to arrive and depart at Dublin Airport this weekend," according to Graeme McQueen, Media Relations Manager at daa, operator of Dublin
Tuesday, October 18, 2022Chambers Ireland welcomes the proposed Small-Scale Generation Support Scheme
Chambers Ireland is very supportive of the proposal to introduce a Small-Scale Generation Support Scheme (SSG) in Ireland in 2023. As a strong supporter of the Sustainable Development Goals, Chambers Ireland strongly advocates for the generation of renewable energy to aid the transition to a net-zero economy. The development of schemes like the SSG needs to be accelerated and its widescale establishment must be facilitated if Ireland is to meet its climate targets. Energy security has rarely been more
Thursday, October 13, 2022Fingal Councillors approve Council’s €989m Capital Programme
Councillors have approved Fingal County Council’s €989m three-year Capital Programme which provides for significant investment on projects across the County during period from 2023 to 2025. It represents a €205m increase on the previous Capital Plan with the 2023-2025 programme identifying 266 individual projects with an estimated spend of €988,990,218 over the three years. The Programme projects a capital spend in 2023 of €269m, followed by €354m in 2024 and a further €366m in 2025. Around 55% of the
Tuesday, October 11, 2022Menopause – fostering awareness and understanding in the workplace
It is estimated that 600,000 Irish women are affected by perimenopause or menopause at any one time with many in employment. But menopause still seems to a taboo subject as many women are reluctant to discuss it with their employers. Research carried out last year found that 37% of affected women said they missed work because of their symptoms and 87% uncomfortable telling their line manager the reason why. In addition to experiencing the symptoms of menopause, it can have a significant impact on a
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Tuesday, October 11, 2022daa Further Eases Contingency Measures at Dublin Airport
daa is pleased to announce a further easing of contingency measures at Dublin Airport due to a sustained stabilisation of security processing times during August and September, with virtually all passengers during those two months passing through security screening in less than 30 minutes. The successful implementation of prudent contingency measures from early June onwards meant passengers did not face any significant security challenges in June, July, August or September - a four-month period in which
Monday, October 03, 2022Multi Award-Winning Recruitment & Talent solutions firm Osborne, celebrates 8 years in Blanchardstow
This September Osborne Blanchardstown and Osborne Drogheda celebrated its 7th and 8th year in operation providing award-winning recruitment and talent solution services to candidates and clients across the North East, Mid-East and M1 corridor region. Both Osborne Blanchardstown and Osborne Drogheda have demonstrated significant growth since their official openings in September 2014 and September 2015. Since then, they have helped drive the local economy through job creation with opportunities for 40
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Monday, October 03, 2022Fingal Chamber launches its Fingal Business Sentiment Survey for Q3 2022
Fingal Chamber has opened its Business Sentiment Survey for Q3 2022 to ascertain the views of the business community in the region on a whole range of local issues. The Business Sentiment Survey 2022 is geared towards discovering the biggest challenges facing businesses, and how local business leaders feel about current business conditions. Fingal Chamber uses the results to tell Fingal County Council, government departments, political parties, TDs, and others about the economic pressures facing local
Friday, September 30, 2022Fingal Chamber: “MetroLink Planning application is great news”
Fingal Chamber strongly welcomes Transport Infrastructure Ireland’s application to An Bord Pleanála for planning permission for the MetroLink. Metrolink is a keystone project for the development of Dublin. MetroLink will open up large parts of Fingal for the development of truly sustainable communities which are built around easy, speedy and clean transport options. MetroLink will allow commuter towns in North Dublin to grow without increasing traffic on the roads to the city centre. Projects such as
Wednesday, September 28, 2022Fixed-term Employment Contracts - Get the basics right
Michelle McDonagh, Consulting and Client Relationship Manager, Adare Human Resource Management This year alone we have seen changes in the Sick Leave Act 2022 bringing in an entitlement to statutory sick pay, an increase in Parent’s Leave to 7 weeks and new Gender Pay Gap Reporting requirements. Given the number of new pieces of legislation, employers could be forgiven for not ensuring they are fully compliant. However, if found in breach, they face significant implications. One particular issue that
Tuesday, September 27, 2022Higher investment in Irish economy welcomed, but delivery is critical.
Budget 2023 represents a huge response to the crisis from the government, however, whether the increases are focused enough to ensure delivery remains an open question. In the context of a budget that is focused on cost-of-living struggles, Fingal Ireland welcomes the business-focused elements and the enormous investment in the economy this represents. The principal concerns of the Chambers Ireland network as we approached #Budget2023 were Energy, Housing, and Talent. Energy Policies like the
Tuesday, September 27, 2022Fingal Chamber urges Government to ensure that Budget 2023 is flexible
Fingal Chamber, the voice of business throughout Fingal, today (27th September 2022) warns that Budget 2023 must be flexible. Government needs to be able to respond quickly, and where needed, to the impact of the escalating energy and inflation crisis. While the immediate effects of energy costs are significant, the knock-on effect will raise challenges. Where large employers move to shorter working weeks, we are likely to see a large impact on disposable income, something that is particularly likely to
Monday, September 26, 2022Economic sentiment down in September amid energy woes
Economic Pulse falls in SeptemberRecord low for consumer confidenceBusiness sentiment slips The Bank of Ireland Economic Pulse came in at 70.6 in September 2022. The index, which combines the results of the Consumer and Business Pulses, was down 1.8 on last month’s reading and 17.6 lower than a year ago. With Europe experiencing disruption to gas flows from Russia, markets on edge and several providers here announcing further gas and electricity price increases, energy matters were to the fore this month.
Friday, September 23, 2022AWS launches new €150,000 community fund to support local projects in Fingal
Amazon Web Services (AWS) today announced the launch of a new AWS InCommunities Fund to help local community groups, schools, and organisations in Fingal to kick-start new projects or expand existing ones for the benefit of the community. The new €150,000 fund will be managed and administered by non-profit organisation ChangeX, and is expected to support up to 30 community projects in the Fingal area. Applicants can apply for funding up to €10,000 to launch a new idea or to expand an existing local project
Tuesday, September 20, 2022A holistic approach is needed when looking at the Report of the Commission on Taxation and Welfare
Chambers Ireland calls for everyone to take a measured response to the Report of the Commission on Taxation and Welfare following the publication of “Foundations of the Future”. Speaking after the publication of the report, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive, Ian Talbot, said: “Foundations of the Future is a weighty piece of work, in terms of both the effort that went into it, and, at almost 550 pages, the sheer volume of it. “The task of the Commission was enormous: To take a strategic look at the
Wednesday, September 14, 2022Impact of workplace accidents can be costly for employers and employees
Michelle McDonagh, Consulting and Client Relationship Manager, Adare Human Resource Management Unfortunately, we’re all too familiar with news of workplace accidents, which is particularly the case at this time of the year when the risk of agricultural incidents is at its highest. According to the HSA, there were 38 work-related fatalities in 2021, with 11 of these in the agricultural sector1. A previous report from the HSA highlighted that there were 9,335 non-fatal injuries reported in 2019, with 20%
Tuesday, September 13, 2022New plan to develop a major park in Swords outlined
Fingal County Council has confirmed its commitment to explore how best to deliver a new project that will create a vastly enhanced Ward River Valley Regional Park in Swords, as the population in the key town continues to grow rapidly and develops into well-designed county capital. The Council has outlined plans that will see an expansion of the park to some 80 hectares (200 acres) and create a space that will benefit all users on the doorstep of Fingal’s county town. The project will involve extensive
Wednesday, September 07, 2022Eurochambers call for immediate measures to help businesses absorb spiralling energy prices
Eurochambers call for immediate measures to help businesses absorb spiralling energy prices Leaders of Eurochambres, the European Association of Chambers of Commerce & Industry meeting in Prague today called for immediate measures to help businesses deal with spiralling electricity and gas prices. Specific suggestions from the chambers include targeted financial compensation for businesses, balanced energy saving policies and well-targeted, temporary market interventions. With an emergency meeting of EU
Monday, September 05, 2022daa Appoints Catherine Gubbins As Interim Chief Executive Officer
daa is pleased to announce the appointment of Catherine Gubbins as Interim Chief Executive Officer, while the process to recruit a new permanent CEO continues. This follows the departure of Dalton Philips to take up a new role as Chief Executive Officer of Greencore Group plc. daa is making good progress in the recruitment of a new permanent Chief Executive Officer. While that process continues, the full responsibilities of CEO transfer to Catherine Gubbins in the interim. In this capacity she will also
Friday, September 02, 2022Chambers Ireland says ‘blame game’ is not a useful response to the energy crisis
Chambers Ireland says ‘blame game’ is not a useful response to the energy crisis. Following the publication of the Chambers Ireland Submission to the CRU regarding Network Tariff proposals, Chambers Ireland Head of Policy, Shane Conneely said: “The current ‘blame game’ is not useful – it is wider society, and the business community in particular, that is likely to bear the consequences of past strategic errors. “With such a widespread, externally induced, price shock hitting our economy it is likely
Tuesday, August 30, 2022Talent Retention - meeting the challenge head-on
Michelle McDonagh, Consulting & Client Relationship Manager, Adare Human Resource Management According to our most recent HR Barometer Report employee turnover was coming in at 18% this year, and all indicators point to a similar high percentage for 2023. It is clearly evident that talent management remains a real challenge for employers. In fact, issues relating to retaining talent is highlighted throughout our report with ‘Retention’ topping the list as the most important priority for HR
Saturday, August 27, 2022Chambers Ireland warns a flexible Budget 2023 is needed in response to inflation crisis
Chambers Ireland, the voice of business throughout Ireland, warns that Budget 2023 must be flexible if Government is to respond quickly, and where needed, to the impact of the escalating energy and inflation crisis. All parties should ensure that neither the Budget nor the ongoing pay talks accelerate the externally induced inflation shock through fuelling domestic inflationary pressures. Speaking in advance of renewed public sector pay negotiations, and in the wake of further domestic and commercial
Wednesday, August 24, 2022Dublin Airport’s North Runway Opens On Time and On Budget
The recently constructed North Runway at Dublin Airport commenced operations today with the 12.00 departure of Ryanair flight FR1964 to Eindhoven. The €320m North Runway (designated 10L/28R) and associated facilities were delivered on schedule and on budget by daa at no cost to the State. The new runway, located on daa lands some 1.69 kilometres north of Dublin Airport’s existing South Runway, will support the creation of 31,200 new jobs and €2.2 billion in additional economic activity. The development
Wednesday, August 24, 2022Fingal Chamber Welcomes Official Opening of Dublin Airport’s North Runway
New runway heralds a step change in connectivity for Ireland Fingal Chamber is delighted to welcome the official opening of Dublin Airport’s new runway which will significantly enhance Ireland’s connectivity across the globe. The new runway will provide further foreign direct investment opportunities for Ireland and will boost the local and national economy particularly in a post-COVID era. “Dublin Airport is the economic heartbeat of Fingal and Ireland; everyone benefits from its success,” said Fingal
Monday, August 22, 2022Event Programme for Dublin Climate Action Week, 12th to 17th September 2022, launched
Dublin Climate Action Week (#DCAW22) is back for 2022 and the event programme and online registration has been launched. A great range of events will be delivered throughout the week, which takes place across Dublin from 12th to 17th September. An overview of the events and online registration is now available at www.dublinclimateactionweek.ie The programme, which will be a mix of both in-person and online events, will cover a range of climate themes such as energy, transport, flood resilience,
Tuesday, August 16, 2022Navigating Gender Pay Gap Reporting
Navigating Gender Pay Gap Reporting Michelle McDonagh, Senior HR Client Relationship Consultant, Adare Human Resource Management Attaining a better gender equality in the workplace took a significant step forward in June as organisations with 250+ employees are now legally required to report their gender pay gap. The Gender Pay Gap Information Act, signed into law in July 2021, requires businesses to publish their first report by the end of this year. However, since the publication of the gender
Tuesday, August 02, 2022Mid-year Employment Law update 2022
Michelle McDonagh, HR & Client Relationship Manager, Adare Human Resource Management The Government had given commitments to enact a number of pieces of employment legislation ahead of the summer recess but what Bills have been signed into law and what is the status of others? Bills recently signed into law Payment of Wages (Amendment) (Tips and Gratuities) Act 2022: legislates for how tips should be treated by Employers in terms of being distributed to Employees. The Bill has passed all stages in both
Thursday, July 28, 2022Chambers Ireland Launches Budget 2023 Submission
There are three principal areas which Chambers Ireland has identified the government to focus on:HousingSkills & TalentEnergy Speaking at the launch of their Submission for Budget 2023, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive, Ian Talbot, said “For our members there are three interlocking struggles which businesses in Ireland are facing: Housing, talent, and energy dominate the conversations of businesses throughout the county. “Many of the problems we are experiencing arose from the decade of underinvestment
Tuesday, July 19, 2022Caution still needed to protect those at risk against Covid-19
Michelle McDonagh, Consulting and Client Relationship Manager, Adare Human Resource Management The HSE recently launched its new “You Never Know” advertising campaign urging people to keep up the public health behaviours to help protect those at risk from Covid-19; a stark reminder that the virus has not gone away. There are also rumblings that we could see the reintroduction of mask-wearing in public spaces, something that has the support of the vast majority of the public according to a survey
Tuesday, July 12, 2022Crowne Plaza Dublin Airport achieves Sustainable Travel Ireland Membership
Crowne Plaza Dublin Airport are pleased to announce the publication of their first ever Sustainability Policy, which is the result of weeks of hard work by the in-house Sustainability Team. With the publication of the Sustainability Policy, the Hotel and Conference Centre has now achieved membership with Sustainable Travel Ireland, who are Ireland's leading sustainability training and certification organisation. The Sustainability Policy outlines a commitment for Crowne Plaza Dublin Airport to change
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Tuesday, June 14, 2022Fingal Connects Business Expo
Fingal Connects, a brand-new business-to-business trade exhibition hosted by Fingal Chamber in conjunction with Fingal County Council and the Local Enterprise Office, took place in the Crowne Plaza Dublin Airport on Thursday, May 26th. A wide variety of businesses and organisations took part in the Expo with almost 50 exhibitors showcasing their products and services throughout the day some of which included The Little Wax Company, Keelings Fruits and Swords Express. As part of the offering on the day,
Wednesday, June 08, 2022Considerations for managing employees’ annual leave.
As we now head into the summer season, Adare Human Resource Management has some advice for employers when managing annual leave requests. It’s worth noting that taking annual leave is important for the health and wellbeing of the employee. It gives them an opportunity to relax and recharge, helping their overall focus and productivity. Given the restrictions that we have endured over the past couple of years, it’s not surprising to see so many people heading off on their holiday. In many cases,
Thursday, June 02, 2022Local community groups in Fingal receive funding to tackle litter and graffiti
An initiative run by Fingal County Council to help prevent litter and stop graffiti has announced that 15 community groups across the County have been awarded new funding to enable them to carry out projects in litter hotspots and other areas affected by vandalism. Now in its third year, the Anti-Litter Anti-Graffiti Competition sees groups being granted up to €1,500 to cover their efforts to combat trash and organise environmental clean-ups. Projects this year ranged from creating biodiversity areas
Wednesday, June 01, 2022Pressure on employers as demand for increasing salaries set to continue in 2022
Michelle McDonagh, Senior HR Client Relationship Consultant, Adare Human Resource Management The latest Earnings and Labour Costs report from the Central Statistics Offices, published 31st May, shows that average weekly earnings now stood at €880.37 in the first quarter of the year, an annual increase of 2.3% and hourly earnings increased on an annual basis by 1.9% to €27.33. However, increasing inflation is negatively impacting any wage increases with the ESRI recently reporting stating the
Wednesday, June 01, 2022daa Outlines Plans to Improve the Passenger Experience at Dublin Airport
daa has today outlined a series of changes to the way in which passengers will arrive and enter the terminals at Dublin Airport over the coming period. The changes are being implemented to prevent the issues which arose last weekend and regrettably resulted in a number of missed flights and to provide confidence and reassurance to all passengers flying out of Dublin Airport over the coming days and weeks. daa is focusing on passenger experience improvements across three core areas: Maximising the staff
Wednesday, June 01, 2022Bank of Ireland complete the acquisition of Davy
The Group announces it has completed the acquisition of J&E Davy (“Davy”), Ireland’s leading provider of wealth management and capital markets services. This acquisition significantly enhances the Group’s commercial and strategic objectives. Davy had AUM of c.€20 billion as at December 2021, which when combined with the Group’s existing Wealth & Insurance AUM of c.€22.5 billion, provides significant scale and breadth of proposition. In addition, the acquisition of Davy enhances the combined services
Wednesday, May 25, 2022The Impacts of Remote Working – Government Publishes Evaluation Report
The Government published a report last week which assesses and evaluates the impacts of remote working on the Irish economy and society, as well as building on the goals set out in the National Remote Work Strategy. The full evaluation report can be found here. The report assessed remote working in the context of the labour market, productivity, regional development and the associated financial implications. Some key findings in the report include: Labour market: Remote working should improve
Wednesday, May 18, 2022Government Guidance is Published on how to Calculate the Gender Pay Gap
Last Friday (10th May), the Department for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth published its guidance on how employers can calculate the Gender Pay Gap in their Organisation, which can be accessed here. Under the Gender Pay Gap Information Act 2021, employers are obliged to report the hourly Gender Pay Gap across a number of metrics. Organisations with 250+ employees will be the first required to report their data with a deadline of December 2022. The guidance states that
Tuesday, May 10, 2022The Right to Request Flexible Working – some questions answered
Michelle McDonagh, Senior HR Client Relationship Consultant, Adare Human Resource Management Following our recent article on introduction of The Right to Request Flexible Working, some employers had questions, which we answer below.Q. In summary, what is proposed in the Bill? A. The Right to Request Remote Working Bill 2022 is expected to be enacted by the Summer, and will for the first time, provide a legal framework around which requesting, approving or refusing a request for remote work can be based.
Thursday, May 05, 2022Fingal Connects Business Expo 2022: A unique opportunity for businesses to connect and build resilience in a post COVID environment
Fingal Chamber, in collaboration with Fingal County Council, is delighted to stage the region’s only business to business exhibition taking place on Thursday, May 26 at the Crowne Plaza, Dublin Airport. The Fingal Connects Business Expo 2022 will showcase the very best that businesses in the region have to offer. The event not only offers a single location for businesses to gather with hundreds of local suppliers, partners, and future customers it will also provide a unique opportunity to learn more
Wednesday, May 04, 2022Employee turnover more than doubles in 12 months as employers battle to keep staff
18% Employee Turnover in 2021 – up from 8% in 2020 (highest since HR Barometer Report began in 2017) Expected employee turnover for 2022 is 18.2% Higher salaries top reason for employee turnover Employee turnover more than doubled last year to 18% from 8% in 2020 and it is expected to increase further this year to 18.2%, according to the latest HR Barometer Report from Adare Human Resource Management. This is the highest rate since the report began six years ago. Over half (56%) of
Tuesday, May 03, 2022Special National Schools -Board of Management Chairpersons
St. Michael’s House Group are seeking applications from suitably qualified individuals for roles as Voluntary Chairpersons to the Board of Management in two of their Special National Schools, Ballymun and Foxfield [Kilbarrack]. located in the greater Dublin Area. St. Michael’s House is one the largest providers of supports and services to children and adults with disabilities in the greater Dublin area. The organisation is multidenominational and this is reflected in the ethos of our schools. The
Friday, April 29, 2022Fingal roadmap for future skills development a model of best practice for other Local Authorities
Fingal County Council wishes to advise that Minister for Further & Higher Education, Research, Innovation & Science, Simon Harris TD will be making a keynote address on why business success and economic development relies on having access to the right talent, relevant skills and on meeting future skills needs. The Minister will be speaking at an event focusing on the Fingal Skills Strategy, the first of its kind in Ireland, which sets out a host of specific actions that include developing and
Wednesday, April 27, 2022The Right to Request Flexible Working Set To Be In Place by Summer
In late April, the Cabinet agreed to introduce Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman’s “Work-Life Balance Bill” that commits to introduce the elements of the EU Directive. The legislation is due before the Dáil in the coming weeks and it is expected to be in place ahead of the summer recess. The proposed Bill entitles employees to five days of unpaid leave available for all family members to support those with medical needs. Carers or parents will also have
Friday, April 15, 2022Fingal Chamber and Fingal County Council announce new business-to-business event ‘Fingal Connects Ex
Fingal Connects Expo is a business exhibition connecting Fingal businesses for trade and collaboration. Presented by Fingal Chamber and Fingal County Council, this new event is the region’s only business-to-business trade exhibition attracting businesses looking to buy products and services from suppliers and vendors. The event offers a single location for businesses to gather with hundreds of local suppliers, partners and future customers. It is expected to attract business owners, company directors,
Wednesday, April 13, 2022Success as Fingal County Council Scoop Four LAMA Awards
The All Ireland Community & Council Awards 2021 presented by IPB Insurance and LAMA took place on Saturday 9th April 2022. The event, which was rescheduled from November 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, was held at the Crowne Plaza Dublin Airport and was hosted by RTÉ broadcaster Marty Morrissey. For the past fifteen years, these awards have celebrated the valuable collaboration between councils and communities and are seen as a benchmark of excellence. Over 160 nominations were received for the
Tuesday, April 12, 2022Trading improves our domestic economy, even for firms that do not export
Trading improves our domestic economy, even for firms that do not export. Speaking today after the launch of the Government’s Trade and Investment Strategy 2022-2026, Chambers Ireland’s Chief Executive Ian Talbot said: “Ireland is a small, advanced, and open economy that is well positioned to secure a huge volume of trade as we adapt to these economically turbulent times. “With our skilled and educated workforce, and a huge number of workers from diverse backgrounds that have languages and connections
Tuesday, April 12, 2022Chambers Ireland welcomes the “Housing for All” update
Chambers Ireland welcomes the “Housing for All” update, but is concerned about the financial viability of projects in the pipeline. Following the Housing for All update this morning (7 April 2022) Chambers Ireland’s Chief Executive, Ian Talbot said: “We are glad that the issue of housing is receiving the highest priority in government and look forward to Croí Cónaithe Cities and Towns funds, which will support urban development and the refurbishment of vacant properties being launched in the coming
Tuesday, April 05, 2022Codes of Practice published on Equal Pay & Sexual Harassment and Harassment at Work
Michelle McDonagh, Senior HR Client Relationship Consultant, Adare Human Resource Management The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) recently published two new Codes of Practice on Equal Pay and Sexual Harassment & Harassment at Work. The Codes of Practice provide guidance for employers, trade unions and employees to ensure equal pay is given for like work as well as protecting employees from sexual harassment and harassment in the workplace. The provisions laid out in both codes
Friday, April 01, 2022Women of Fingal Tapestry Launched
The women of Fingal have been captured in tapestry! As part of the Creative Ireland Programme Fingal County Council is delighted to launch the Women of Fingal Tapestry. The Tapestry, created by artist Agnieszka ‘Uisce’ Jakubczyk captures aspects of Fingal's women throughout the ages from finds uncovered on the Drumanagh excavations to revolutionary women and was launched in Rush Library by Mayor of Fingal Cllr Seána Ó Rodaigh. The launch on Wednesday in the beautiful library setting was a very moving
Wednesday, March 30, 2022Chambers Ireland’s presentation to the European Parliament on the Northern Ireland Protocol
Speaking at the European Parliament Committee on International Trade (INTA) public hearing on the “Trade-related aspects of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland”, Chambers Ireland’s Chief Executive, Ian Talbot, said: “I’d like to open by acknowledging the terrible tragedy unfolding in Ukraine and the support of Irish business and the public in general to the humanitarian efforts. We also commend the EU for such rapid responses in so many relevant matters. “Turning to the Protocol, Chambers Ireland
Wednesday, March 30, 2022New trail launched to tempt visitors to Fingal and Dublin's coastal delights
Key locations in Fingal feature as part of a new Dublin Coastal Trail launched today that has been developed to aid tourism businesses along the coast and promote the rich history and vibrancy of Dublin’s coastal towns. The new tourist attraction stretches from Skerries in the north through to Killiney in the south. Easily accessible by rail and encouraging visitors to journey out of the city, the Dublin Coastal Trail bring aims to bring new life to Dublin’s coastline. In showcasing the wide range of
Monday, March 28, 2022Consumer sentiment plummets, while business sentiment drops slightly
· Economic Pulse falls in March· Consumer confidence tumbles - households react to Russian-Ukraine conflict· Over a third of firms expect to increase investment this year The Bank of Ireland Economic Pulse came in at 84.4 in March 2022. The index, which combines the results of the Consumer and Business Pulses, was down 3.8 on last month but 10.7 higher than a year ago. Consumer confidence took a big knock this month as households reacted to the escalation of the Russian-Ukraine
Tuesday, March 22, 2022Chambers Ireland meeting with the Ukrainian Ambassador to Ireland
Chambers Ireland meeting with the Ukrainian Ambassador to Ireland With over 6,000 Ukrainian refugees already in Ireland the State needs to make enormous efforts to ensure that they can be speedily integrated into local communities and the workforce. Many refugees with poorer English will need help in finding opportunities where they will be able to take advantage of their skills and talents. With so many of the refugees being women, childcare will be a serious problem for those who seek to work while
Tuesday, March 22, 2022Fingal Skills Strategy Initiatives – Construction Skills Survey 2022
As part of the implementation of the Fingal Skills Strategy, a survey of construction companies in the county was undertaken to determine the training and upskilling needs of the sector in 2022. The construction skills survey results highlights the training needs of local companies in the county, with particular areas of focus on skills in project management, health and safety, building information modelling and building control regulations. The survey results were discussed at the Fingal Skills
Wednesday, March 16, 2022Council want to talk to public about Fingal’s Draft Development Plan?
Fingal County Council is to hold a series of public consultation events to promote a greater understanding of the Draft Development Plan 2023-2029. A webinar will be held online next Tuesday, March 22, followed by four drop-in events in different locations across the county. At each event staff from the Planning and Strategic Infrastructure Department will be available to brief the public and answer questions on the Draft Development Plan. Next Tuesday’s webinar will take place between 7pm
Tuesday, March 15, 2022Take Part in The HR Barometer Survey 2022
What is the HR Barometer Report? The HR Barometer Report is the most comprehensive research report analysing the impacts, challenges and opportunities within the HR and Employment Law landscape in Ireland. This is the sixth year Adare Human Resource Management have been running the HR Barometer Survey. We survey a wide range of industries throughout Ireland to get the best understanding of Human Resource practices across all types, regions and sizes of organisations. The HR Barometer results provide
Tuesday, March 15, 2022Annual St Patrick's Day celebrations to turn Fingal green once again
With the much-awaited return of St. Patrick’s Day parades to take place across Fingal on Thursday, people across the county will be out in force to celebrate all things Irish. The theme this year is “Essential Workers”, chosen to thank the thousands of frontline staff for their tremendous hard work and dedication throughout the pandemic. Local businesses, youth clubs, sports clubs, schools and other organisations will be taking part, with the Council encouraging participants to be carbon neutral as they
Tuesday, March 15, 2022Fingal shows solidarity with people of Ukraine as flag raised at County Hall
In a gesture of solidarity with the people and the country of Ukraine, the Ukrainian national flag was raised today at County Hall, Swords, by the Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Seána O Rodaigh, in the presence of the Ukrainian ambassador to Ireland, Her Excellency Ms Larysa Gerasko. The ceremony was also attended by members of the Ukrainian community in Fingal who had earlier been hosted by the Mayor at a special reception in The Atrium at County Hall. Fingal councillors and Oireachtas members stood in
Friday, March 11, 2022Commemorative tree planting and walk shines a light for women on International Women’s Day
Fingal County Council`s Community Office, were delighted to be joined by Cllr Mary McCamley, deputising for Mayor of Fingal and Chief Executive AnnMarie Farrelly, in Millennium Park Blanchardstown to Celebrate International Women’s day on March 8th and Shine a light on Gender Bias and Safety Issues for Women. Also in attendance at the commemorative tree planting and symbolic walk event were local councillors and Director of Housing and Community Robert Burns with participants lighting the way as they
Tuesday, March 08, 2022Supporting better gender equality in Irish organisations
Michelle McDonagh, Senior HR Client Relationship Consultant, Adare Human Resource Management Today (Tuesday, 8th March) International Women’s Day is celebrated across the globe and provides us with an opportunity to look at what is being done in Ireland to help create a better-balanced workforce. We also look at some initiatives that employers could implement to support a better-balanced workforce. Gender Pay Gap Information Act 2021 Demonstrating its commitment to gender balance in the
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Monday, March 07, 2022150 new solar powered compactable smart bins to be installed across Fingal
More solar bins will be installed around the streets of Swords, Balbriggan, Castleknock and Mulhuddart after Fingal County Council confirmed it had ordered 150 of the compactable smart bins to help keep the towns litter free and drive down carbon emissions. An initial order of 100 bins will be installed by April, with the remaining 50 bins to be installed by the end of summer. The bins will be situated in areas with high footfall, such as towns and coastal areas. Area Inspectors will identify
Wednesday, March 02, 2022daa Selects Sisk/Lagan JV To Undertake Dublin Airport €325 million Framework
daa has selected Sisk/Lagan Joint Venture (JV) to undertake its Dublin Airport Airside and Landside civil engineering framework worth over €325 million. This fully integrated JV between respective engineering firms, John Sisk & Son and Lagan Aviation & Infrastructure Ltd will utilise Sisk’s position as the leading building & civil engineering contractor in Ireland and Lagan’s position as a leader in worldwide aviation and airport infrastructure development. The Airside and Landside Lot 1 framework is
Tuesday, March 01, 2022Statutory Sick Pay & Reduction to EWSS – key employment updates
Michelle McDonagh, Senior HR Client RelationshipConsultant, Adare Human Resource ManagementLast month the Government’s plan to introduce Statutory Sick Pay was approved by the Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Trade & Employment, which aims to ensure that all employees have a right to statutory sick pay. Details of the proposed Bill were announced by Tánaiste & Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar TD last year. The Bill is to be phased in over a four-year period, starting with
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Monday, February 28, 2022Join in the Celebration on Women’s Achievements this International Women’s Day
Fingal County Council will be marking International Women’s Day 2022 across all their digital platforms and in a series of in person events. Fingal County Council’s Community and Sports Office are hosting a range of initiatives across Fingal to celebrate women's achievements and increase visibility, while calling out gender inequality. Commencing Monday the 7th March, the Council will be awarding participants from our She Leads We Lead Community Leadership Programme. On the 8th March, a series of safety
Friday, February 25, 2022Eurochambres/Chambers Ireland statement on the Ukraine crisis
Following last night’s European Council summit on the Ukraine crisis, the President of Eurochambres, Luc Frieden, convened an extraordinary meeting of the Eurochambres Board of Directors this morning (25 February 2022), which was attended by Ian Talbot, CEO of Chambers Ireland. Eurochambres, joined by Chambers Ireland, condemns in the strongest possible terms Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine. First and foremost, this unprovoked invasion of a sovereign state puts at risk the security of
Friday, February 25, 2022EU Payments Directive (Strong Customer Authentication) Alert
From 8th March 2022, as part of the implementation of EU Payments Service Directive SCA (Strong Customer Authentication), certain e-commerce card transactions must be processed in line with the SCA standards. Failure by the merchant (i.e. your Business/Member) to do so correctly may result in disruption for some e-commerce card transactions. The transactions in scope for these new standards are often referred to as Merchant Initiated Transactions (‘MITs’) and include recurring transactions, transactions
Thursday, February 24, 2022Public invited to review Draft Development Plan as public consultation commences
Fingal County Council has commenced public consultation on the Draft Fingal Development Plan 2023-2029 and is urging the public to review the document which was published today. The public consultation will run until May 12 and during that time the document is available for download from the fingal.ie/developmentplan website and can be inspected at Fingal County Council’s offices in Swords and Blanchardstown or any Fingal Libraries branch. Councillors met 11 times between January 18 and February 10 to
Tuesday, February 22, 2022Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Bill 2022 published by Minister Michael McGrath
On 9th February 2022, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Mr Michael McGrath TD published the Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Bill 2022. The Bill is to provide for the transposition of the EU Whistleblowing Directive into Irish law, which aims to further enhance and strengthen the protections it provides. The key provisions of the Bill are as follows: 1. The extension of the personal scope of the Protected Disclosures Act to volunteers, unpaid trainees, board members, shareholders,
Thursday, February 17, 2022Fingal Chamber Publishes Business Sentiment Survey Findings
Staff retention and recruitment are the biggest challenges facing Fingal business.Fingal’s competitiveness is at risk due to lack of skills and talent, availability of housing and transport issues.Positive outlook predicted with many businesses expecting to see an increase in staff numbers, training, revenue and profits. Fingal Chamber has published the findings of its Business Sentiment Survey. The survey which focused on business challenges, competitiveness, staff recruitment and retention, flexible and
Tuesday, February 15, 2022R132 Connectivity Improvements On Way As Planning Permission Granted
Fingal County Council is delighted to announce that full planning permission has been granted to the R132 Connectivity Project by An Bord Pleanála. Fingal County Council is working in conjunction with the National Transport Authority to improve connectivity for the town of Swords and this includes a renewed focus on safe facilities for pedestrians and cyclists on the R132. The R132 Connectivity Project will improve the connectivity and safety of pedestrians and cyclists moving along, and across, the R132
Tuesday, February 15, 2022Lowest number of work-related fatalities recorded in 2021
Michelle McDonagh, Senior HR Client Relationship Consultant, Adare Human Resource Management Provisional figures published by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) at the end of December 2021 highlighted a significant decrease in the number of work-related fatalities in 2021. The figures showed a welcome 30% decrease in work-related deaths on the previous year, 2020. The report highlighted 38 work-related fatalities in 2021, a drop from 53 in 2020. The main causes of fatalities were loss of
Monday, February 14, 2022Fingal Chamber welcomes IBM jobs announcement
Fingal Chamber has welcomed the news IBM is to create 200 new jobs in Dublin, Cork and Galway. The technology firm specialises in cloud and artificial intelligence technologies. It is looking to grow its research, development and innovation operations here. Fingal Chamber Chief Executive Anthony Cooney said "The plans to create 200 new jobs across IBM’s Irish operations are most welcome, specifically for Fingal, which is home to IBM’s Technology Campus in Damastown, Dublin 15. These high-quality roles are a
Tuesday, February 08, 2022Pension coverage needs to be improved
Michelle McDonagh, Senior HR Client Relationship Consultant, Adare Human Resource Management According to the Central Statistics Office, a third of the working population have no pension coverage other than the State pension1. Three quarters of those with supplementary pension coverage said it is provided through their employment, with 11% holding a personal pension plan and 16% with both. Unsurprisingly, younger workers have the lowest level of coverage with just a quarter of workers aged 20-24 having
Tuesday, February 08, 2022Launch of Local Enterprise Week 2022
Fingal Local Enterprise Office (LEO) has launched a series of exciting business events and initiatives to take place both online and in-person for Local Enterprise Week (LEW) this year, which is happening between the 7th and 11th of March 2022. LEW will allow local business owner/managers to learn, engage and network in person at events occurring throughout Fingal. In addition, a wide series of online events organised by Fingal and other LEOs will be accessible to businesses throughout Ireland. The
Tuesday, February 08, 2022St. Patrick’s Day missions support Ireland’s global economic and diplomatic footprint
Chambers Ireland welcomes today’s announcement of the renewed St. Patrick’s Day ministerial missions. Speaking earlier today (8 February 2022) Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot said, “In these uncertain times, it is vital that Ireland returns to being an outward-looking nation. We must actively seek to build upon the work of previous Governments in promoting Ireland abroad, both as a place to invest in and do business with. “Ireland’s global footprint must continue to grow larger; these trips
Friday, February 04, 2022Fingal publishes latest progress report on its efforts to tackle climate change across the county
The second Annual Progress Report on Fingal County Council’s Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP) has been published, setting out how it will cut half of the County’s emissions by 2030 and in doing so help Ireland to reach net zero no later than 2050. First published in 2019, the CCAP sets out 130 actions across five themes that the council will take to tackle climate change for each sector of Fingal’s economy. One of the key platforms in the plan is the overall improvement of energy
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Friday, February 04, 2022John O’Donoghue becomes the new Fingal Chamber President
Fingal Chamber is delighted to announce the appointment of John O’Donoghue, General Manager with Aramark as its new Chamber President. Helen McNamara, Bank Manager People Manager with Bank of Ireland, was appointed as Chamber Vice President, while Kevin Smith, Director and Head Of Pre-Sales at Fujitsu, steps into the role of Deputy Vice President. John was formally appointed President at a recent Fingal Chamber Council meeting. He takes the mantle from Andrea Molloy, Sales and Marketing Manager at the
Tuesday, February 01, 2022Considerations for Employers thinking of returning Employees to the Workplace
Michelle McDonagh, Senior HR Client Relationship Consultant, Adare Human Resource Management Following the Government recent announcement lifting most of the Covid-19 restrictions, particularly clearing the way for a return to the workplace, there is a renewed focus on absence management and sick leave policies. Absence management and sick leave absenteeism can be complex issues for Employers at the best of times. But the additional considerations stemming from sick leave and absence due the ongoing
Monday, January 31, 2022Business and consumer sentiment improves in January as Omicron fears recede
· Bank of Ireland Economic Pulse rises in January · Households more upbeat about the economy · Two in five firms expect business activity to increase in the next 3 months The Bank of Ireland Economic Pulse came in at 84.5 in January 2022. The index, which combines the results of the Consumer and Business Pulses, was up 4.6 on last month and 22.9 higher than a year ago. With the acceleration of the vaccine booster campaign and signs that the Omicron wave of the virus may be less severe and
Monday, January 31, 2022Fingal goes green as St Patrick’s Day parades set to make a comeback
Following the announcement that most Covid-19 restrictions were being lifted, Fingal County Council have been quick to confirm that they are ready to welcome a return of the annual St Patrick’s Day Parades to the streets of Fingal after a two-year absence. The Council has outlined that while official parades are set to take place in Swords, Blanchardstown and Balbriggan, community groups in Rush, Lusk and Skerries will also host celebrations on 17 March via the Council’s Festival and Events Funding
Friday, January 28, 2022First sod turned on Church Fields Link Road and Cycle Network in Mulhuddart
day marked the first step in the construction of new infrastructure at the Church Fields site in Mulhuddart, as the Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Seána Ó Rodaigh turned the first sod on the project. The Church Fields Link Road and Cycle Network will create new connectivity to facilitate the development of the Church Fields Masterplan which will deliver housing, retail and community amenities to support the sustainable growth of Mulhuddart. The walking and cycling element of the infrastructure is funded by the
Friday, January 28, 2022Local groups receive over €42,000 in grants to help design public spaces in Balbriggan
Local history, exhibitions, community gardens and street art are just some of the projects which will benefit from Fingal County Council’s announcement of successful grants, showcasing the town’s creativity and helping to develop a sense of identity and social inclusion in Balbriggan. Over €42,000 has been awarded to 16 projects through the Our Balbriggan Placemaking Fund, which aims to inspire people to reimagine and reinvent public spaces in the charming seaside town in North Fingal. Mayor of
Wednesday, January 26, 2022Further resourcing of planning authorities welcomed by Chambers Ireland
Speaking after the launch of the Housing for All Q4 Progress Report today, 26 January 2022, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive, Ian Talbot, welcomed the announcement of further resourcing of planning authorities across the country, and said, ‘The expansion of resources for An Bord Pleanála will be key to delivering the ambitious housing targets in “Housing for All” and they are also of the utmost importance for ensuring that the infrastructural investment in our National Development Plan can be built
Monday, January 24, 2022€25.5m funding for Active Travel in Fingal
Fingal County Council has welcomed the announcement by the Department of Transport, that €25.5m in funding has been granted to 44 Active Travel projects across Fingal. The Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan confirmed that the National Transport Authority (NTA) has allocated these funds as part of a national annual spend of €289 million on walking and cycling infrastructure in 2022. Projects to receive funding include the Skerries Active Travel Plan, St. Cronins Road, the Broadmeadow Way, Seatown
Monday, January 24, 2022Fingal Chamber welcomes easing of restrictions
Fingal Chamber, the voice of business in Fingal, has welcomed the announcement by Government to ease the public health restrictions which will provide businesses across Ireland an opportunity to reach their full potential. Following the announcement by An Taoiseach, Fingal Chamber Chief Executive Anthony Cooney said: “The decision by Government today will come as a relief to the many business owners across Ireland who have played a crucial role in navigating the threat posed by Covid-19. Through several
Monday, January 24, 2022Government Announces An End To Restrictions
Friday January 22, 2022, saw the announcement by Government of an end to most of the restrictions put in place because of the necessary public health measures responding to the pandemic. The move by Government to withdraw the majority of restrictions will come as welcomed news and signals a return to normalcy, long anticipated by the majority of people. As of today Monday, January 24, 2022, a return to physical attendance in the workplace can commence which means that Employers must now decide how this
Thursday, January 20, 2022Government announces additional Public Holidays
Following a number of discussions and much speculation the Government has made the long-awaited announcement of additional public holidays.Once-off Public Holiday The first announcement outlined the provision of a once-off public holiday which will take place on Friday March 18, 2022. According to the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Leo Varadkar, the designation of this once-off public holiday is in recognition of the efforts of the general public, volunteers and all workers
Thursday, January 20, 2022Fingal Chamber appoints Siobhán O’Donnell as Head of Public Affairs
Fingal Chamber is delighted to announce the appointment of Siobhán O’Donnell as its Head of Public Affairs. Siobhán is an accomplished professional who will lead the Chamber’s advocacy work and support the Chamber’s Officers and its Board in lobbying and representing members to deliver positive change for Fingal and its businesses. Siobhán has a long history of success working in the region, having moved to Fingal Chamber from daa, the operator of Dublin Airport, where she worked for 37 years before
Thursday, January 20, 2022Fingal Chamber Welcomes Ryanair’s New Route Announcements for Dublin Airport
Fingal Chamber welcomes today’s announcement from Ryanair that it will launch its largest-ever summer schedule from Dublin Airport. The airline also announced 11 new routes for this summer bringing its weekly flight schedule from Dublin Airport to 900, connecting it to 120 UK and European destinations. “We warmly welcome Ryanair’s announcement today which brings a real sense of optimism to aviation, Fingal and Ireland,” said Fingal Chamber CEO, Anthony Cooney. “Dublin Airport is hugely important to
Thursday, January 20, 2022New Director for Housing and Community Development announced
Fingal County Council has announced that Robert Burns will take up the role of Director for Housing and Community Development from next Monday, 24 January. In the position, Robert will be responsible for managing over 6,000 council-owned homes across Fingal as well as overseeing the delivery of 3,640 new homes between 2022 and 2026 to meet the Council’s targets under the Government’s Housing for All plan. He will also oversee community development and a number of other key services including integration
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Wednesday, January 19, 2022New legislation and Codes of Practice – what Employers should know for 2022
New legislation and Codes of Practice – what Employers should know for 2022 Michelle McDonagh, Senior HR Client Relationship Consultant, Adare Human Resource Management looks at some of the new employment legislation Employers should know about for 2022. Sick Leave Bill 2021: In November 2021, the Government has published the Sick Leave Bill 2021 which provides further details on the statutory sick leave payments for Employees. The Bill, which came into force on 1st January 2022, provides that an
Tuesday, January 18, 2022Fingal Chamber launches its Fingal Business Sentiment Survey for 2022
Fingal Chamber has opened its Business Sentiment Survey for 2022 to ascertain the views of the business community in the region on a whole range of local issues. Anyone with commercial interests in the region is being urged to respond to ensure a full and accurate snapshot of local opinion is obtained. The Business Sentiment Survey 2022 is geared towards discovering the biggest challenges facing businesses, and how local business leaders feel about current business conditions. Fingal Chamber will use the
Saturday, January 15, 2022Taoiseach briefed on Our Balbriggan projects during visit
Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD was briefed on the Our Balbriggan Regeneration Plan when he visited the town yesterday for the official launch of the Irish Institute of Music and Song. During a walk from the Our Balbriggan Hub in St George’s Square to Balbriggan Harbour, the Taoiseach, who was accompanied by Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD, was shown the sites for several major regeneration projects which have received funding from the Urban Regeneration Development
Friday, January 14, 2022Fingal Community Groups invited to apply for Community Activities Funding
Community and voluntary groups in Fingal are invited to apply for funding under the 2022 Community Activities Fund. The Community Activities Fund (CAF) is a once-off fund that provides grants to assist community and voluntary groups with facilities upgrades, equipment purchase and running costs. The CAF is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development with Fingal allocated €301,042 in funding for groups across the county. It was launched before Christmas at a national level by the Minister
Thursday, January 13, 2022Carbon budgets needed for Ireland to achieve climate targets, says Chambers Ireland
Chambers Ireland, the voice of business throughout Ireland, has said that carbon budgets must become a fundamental component of decision-making within public bodies if Ireland is to achieve its climate targets. Ian Talbot, Chief Executive of Chambers Ireland, was speaking to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Environment and Climate Action today. State decisions play a crucial role in facilitating businesses and the public to engage in climate-friendly behaviours, Talbot said. However successive
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Wednesday, January 12, 2022Dublin Airport Passenger Numbers Up 14% Compared To Last Year
Dublin Airport has released its traffic figures for 2021 which reveal that passenger numbers at the Airport increased by 14% to 8.46 million, when compared with 2020. However, 2021 passenger numbers were down by 74% when compared to numbers in 2019 as COVID-19 continued to have a massive impact on aviation globally. Two thirds of all passengers (66%) who travelled through Dublin Airport in 2021 did so in the months of August, September, October and November which equates to 5.6 million passengers. In
Tuesday, January 11, 2022Workplace Relations Commission Publish Latest Review of Decisions and Recommendations
Michelle McDonagh, Senior HR Client Relationship Consultant, Adare Human Resource Management In December 2021, the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) published its report that examined complaints made to it from 1st January to 31st December 2020. In that time a total of 1,401 cases covering 3,059 complaints were the subject of published decisions. A total of 8,103 cases were received by the WRC, covering 18,969 complaints. However, not all reached the adjudication stage as some were settled, withdrawn,
Friday, January 07, 2022Chambers Ireland welcomes RRDF urban activation projects
Chambers Ireland, the voice of business throughout Ireland, welcomes today’s announcement of additional funding for the improvement of town centres by Minister Heather Humphreys. Projects such as these have a crucial part to play in making our urban spaces livable again. The regional towns that are the focus of the “Rural Regeneration Development Fund” (RRDF) are critical to their local economies. Bringing life back to these neglected towns is a fundamental element of the National Development
Thursday, January 06, 2022Progressive Credit Union launch new loyalty scheme
Progressive Credit Union has introduced a member loyalty scheme using a mobile app called Cardu. The app allows businesses to market to our 60,000 members by offering loyalty rewards to them for repeat business. The Cardu app is designed to attract Credit Union customers to participating businesses and allows a business to set up a loyalty reward so that existing and new customers will receive a digital token every time they make a valid purchase - it takes just minutes to set your business up on the
Tuesday, January 04, 2022DAA Appoints Andrea Carroll as Head of Sustainability
daa, the operator of Dublin and Cork airports, has confirmed the appointment of Andrea Carroll as Group Head of Sustainability. She is an accomplished senior sustainability professional who will work across the daa business to lead the transformational change required to allow daa to not only meet but exceed its sustainability commitments. She has a long history of success working in the environmental and climate sector in both private and public sector organisations, having moved to daa from a
Tuesday, December 21, 2021Fingal looks to save on annual energy costs and reduce carbon emissions
Fingal County Council has taken another positive step in its efforts to reduce its energy consumption by engaging an energy services company to deliver significant energy efficiency upgrades for the Civic Offices in Blanchardstown and County Hall in Swords. Lawler Sustainability, which has a multi-disciplinary team of highly qualified Building Services and Green Energy Engineers, has been awarded a €1 million contract to design, install and maintain a suite of energy efficiency measures. The primary
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Monday, December 20, 2021The Future of Europe comes under the spotlight at Blanchardstown
A series of healthy debates have taken place in Blanchardstown Library as European Direct hosted three “Conference on the Future of Europe” events aimed at gaining local insights into what challenges and opportunities currently exist across Europe and encouraging the people of Fingal to share their thoughts on what could be done to help shape a common future. There was a comprehensive range of topics discussed throughout the sessions, with ideas proposed during the events submitted to a dedicated
Monday, December 13, 2021Fingal County Council secures funding for the development of the first-ever Town Centre First Plans
Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, has recently announced €2.6 million in funding for all local authorities across the country to deliver the first-ever Town Centre First Plans. Among the 26 towns selected is Lusk and Fingal County Council has secured funding of €100,000 to support the development of a unique master plan for the town. This initiative is a key part of Our Rural Future – the Government’s ambitious five-year strategy designed to reimagine and revitalise
Friday, December 10, 2021New road connecting Fingal and Dublin opens
The brand-new Hole in the Wall Road extension in Fingal has officially been opened today by the Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Seána Ó Rodaigh, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O'Brien, TD, and the Lord Mayor of Dublin Alison Gilliland. The €12m project, which was co-funded under the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF), commenced construction in February 2020 and will help to significantly enhance the local transportation network as well as address the anticipated
Thursday, December 09, 2021Fingal social enterprises to benefit after securing special grant funding
Ten local social enterprises in Fingal have been awarded over €37,000 in funding by the Department of Rural and Community Development to help them with their capital costs. The small grants were announced by Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD as part of a €1 million fund to support 247 Social Enterprises across Ireland. The Fingal Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) will be distributing the funding to the ten Fingal social enterprises on behalf of the
Thursday, December 09, 2021Businesses need legislative certainty on Covid-19 supports before Dáil Christmas recess, says Chambers Ireland
Chambers Ireland, the voice of business throughout Ireland, is concerned about the challenges businesses are experiencing due to coronavirus uncertainties. In light of the reintroduction of restrictions, it is clear that we are not in the recovery scenario that underpinned Government decision-making regarding Covid-19, and Budget 2022. However, above-profile Exchequer returns demonstrate how fortunate we are that the parts of our economy which continue functioning under restrictions are maintaining
Tuesday, December 07, 2021Employees & Covid-19 vaccine – considerations for employers
Michelle McDonagh, Chamber Partner Manager, Adare Human Resource Management With the roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine booster now underway and the emergency of another new variant, it is worth reminding employers on what they can and cannot do when it comes to vaccines and their employees. Provide a safe workplace Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, it is the responsibility of the employer to provide a safe working environment for employees, so it is not unreasonable that an employer
Friday, December 03, 2021Chambers Ireland welcomes scheme to regularise the undocumented but urges the creation of a formal process for greater inclusion
Chambers Ireland welcomes scheme to regularise the undocumented but urges the creation of a formal process for greater inclusion Chambers Ireland, the voice of business throughout Ireland, has today welcomed the announcement of a new scheme to regularise long-term undocumented migrants in Ireland but urges the creation of a formal process to fully regularise all undocumented persons from now on. Speaking today, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot, said: “After a long period of campaigning for
Friday, December 03, 2021Businesses need legislative certainty on Covid-19 supports before Dáil Christmas recess, says Chambers Ireland
Businesses need legislative certainty on Covid-19 supports before Dáil Christmas recess, says Chambers Ireland Chambers Ireland, the voice of business throughout Ireland, is concerned about the challenges businesses are experiencing due to coronavirus uncertainties. In light of the reintroduction of restrictions, it is clear that we are not in the recovery scenario that underpinned Government decision-making regarding Covid-19, and Budget 2022. However, above-profile Exchequer returns demonstrate how
Friday, December 03, 2021Local Businesses Get Pedal Powered with eCargo Bikes from Fingal County Council
Four businesses in the Fingal area are pedalling into the busy festive season with brand new eCargo bikes from Fingal County Council. These state of the art eCargo bikes are intended to replace the use of motor vehicles for local area deliveries. As part of its commitment to climate action and providing sustainable travel alternatives, Fingal County Council is providing the bikes free of charge to the businesses for 12 months. The initiative launches this week with delivery of the first two eCargo bikes
Thursday, December 02, 2021Failure to adequately support people with disabilities in the workplace must end, says Employers for Change and Chambers Ireland
Time for inclusive change: Failure to adequately support people with disabilities in the workplace must end, says Employers for Change and Chambers Ireland Ahead of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on Friday, Employers for Change and Chambers Ireland are calling on Government to rapidly remove barriers to the workplace and create wider business opportunities for persons living with a disability in Ireland. Particularly in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, the organisations say that
Monday, November 29, 2021Economic Pulse hits eight month low, with consumer and business sentiment both dropping
COVID and Brexit setbacks impacting sentimentSupply bottlenecks causing problems for businesses75% of households to spend the same or more on presents this Christmas The Bank of Ireland Economic Pulse stood at 83.2 in November 2021, its lowest reading in eight months. The index, which combines the results of the Consumer and Business Pulses, was down 4.4 on last month but up 16.2 on a year ago. Setbacks on the COVID and Brexit fronts were to the fore this month, with households and firms anticipating some
Thursday, November 25, 2021Ringing in the festive cheer with the launch of Fingal’s Christmas programme
This year Christmas is back in full force and Fingal County Council is very happy to announce that the Grinch won’t be stealing Christmas this year. To spread the festive cheer, Christmas markets and Illuminate Fingal will be taking place across the County this December. The “In It Together” campaign will also help support local businesses and residents who will be able to make use of free parking locations at key spots in the run up to Christmas. The following locations and dates for Christmas Markets
Tuesday, November 23, 2021Oversight Board Chair and Deputy Chair elected as push to boost economy between Dublin and Belfast gains momentum
A new cross-border partnership established to foster economic growth along the key strategic route between Dublin and Belfast has today 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
Tuesday, November 23, 2021Is hybrid working falling out of favour with employees? HR Barometer Report outlines some key findings from employer survey
As the Government advises businesses to move to remote working again, new research¹ from Adare Human Resource Management reveals that employer enthusiasm for hybrid working has decreased since the phased reopening of workplaces began in September. The latest HR Barometer Report reveals that only one third of employers (32%) excluding retail and wholesale sectors believe hybrid working will benefit their organisation. This compares to over three quarters (76.8%) in their March HR Barometer Report. The
Monday, November 22, 2021Significant LEADER Funding approved for new projects in rural Fingal
Significant investment has been secured for Fingal projects at the most recent Dublin Rural LEADER Approvals Meeting. The Dublin Rural LEADER Local Action Group, which oversees the LEADER Programme in Dublin, approved €230,748.76 in funding for 5 new projects in Rural Dublin at its November Online Meeting. This brings the total number of projects approved during the LEADER Transition Programme to 15 since it began on April 1st, 2021, with a total value of €543,984.52. The approved projects are in the
Friday, November 19, 2021Chambers Ireland welcomes Deposit Return Scheme for plastic bottles and aluminium cans
Chambers Ireland, the voice of business throughout Ireland, has welcomed an announcement by Government that legislative regulations for a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for plastic bottles and aluminium cans in Ireland have been signed. The organisation, which previously made a submission on models for a Deposit Return Scheme in November 2020, agreed with the Government’s position that the introduction of the scheme will assist in reducing single use plastics, help Ireland meet EU recycling targets and
Thursday, November 18, 2021Judicial system needs significant extra resources to avoid costly infrastructure delays, says Chambers Ireland
Chambers Ireland, the voice of business throughout Ireland, has said today said that our country’s infrastructure ambitions are in serious jeopardy unless significant reform of our under-resourced judicial system is implemented. The chambers of commerce network says that the caseload and scale of activity within the courts is leading to costly delays and improved resourcing and restructuring is needed. Following the publication today of Chambers Ireland’s submission to the Department of Justice’s
Wednesday, November 17, 2021Fingal County Council Congratulates Tidy Towns Committees on 2021 success
Fingal County Council is delighted to congratulate all TidyTowns committees on their continued success following the announcement of the results of this year’s awards on Friday, 12 November. The SuperValu TidyTowns competition was presented at a scaled-back event held in the RDS and Ennis, Co Clare was the overall winner from a total of 847 entries to the competition this year. Rush committee were the National winner of the EPA Circular Economy Award, and were awarded a €1,000 prize to help continue
Wednesday, November 17, 2021Chambers Ireland raises concerns that further Covid-related measures will be needed within weeks
Following a meeting this morning of the Chambers of Commerce Chief Executives from around the country, Chambers Ireland, the voice of Business throughout Ireland, has released a statement on the Government’s “additional measures to reduce levels of social contact and interrupt the spread of Covid-19”. Our network expressed their concerns that the current increase in covid cases is putting pressure on an already challenged health system and the actions which cabinet decided upon yesterday are
Tuesday, November 16, 2021Use of personal email & personal devices for work – Considerations for employers
Michelle McDonagh of Adare Human Resource Management provides some advice for employers who find that employees are using personal emails and devices for work purposes. This comes on the back of a recent Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) case that found in favour of an employee who was found to be unfairly dismissed for using his personal email account. Background to the WRC Case An employee who was a customer relations advisor for a tech distributor was awarded €4,500 after the WRC found he had
Tuesday, November 16, 2021Eamonn Hughes appointed Chief Sustainability & Investor Relations Officer at Bank of Ireland Group
Eamonn Hughes has been appointed Chief Sustainability & Investor Relations Officer at Bank of Ireland Group. Eamonn is a senior finance professional and market analyst with over 25 years’ capital markets and domestic banking experience. He joins Bank of Ireland from Goodbody Stockbrokers, where he held the role of Irish Banks and Insurance Sector Analyst since 2004. Eamonn also previously served as Head of the European Banks Team in ABN AMRO. He is a Chartered Accountant and holds a Masters in
Friday, November 12, 2021Look for Local campaign urges consumers to shop Fingal this Christmas
A new campaign by Fingal Local Enterprise Office, which was launched this week, is asking consumers to look local when they are shopping for products, services and experiences this Christmas. The Look for Local & Shop Fingal campaigns, supported by Enterprise Ireland and Fingal County Council, aim to raise awareness of the benefit of spending in your local area. Mayor of Fingal Cllr Seána Ó Rodaigh emphasised the importance of supporting the Look for Local and the Shop Fingal initiatives, saying: "LEO
Thursday, November 11, 2021Increased expenditure approved for Fingal in 2022 budget
In order to keep pace with continued growth across the county, Fingal County Council has adopted a spending plan of around €300m for 2022 which will help deliver improved services and see support remain in place to help reenergise economic development in a post-Covid environment. Agreed by Fingal’s Councillors, the €299.8m budget will enable the Council to continue to provide the high level of services that have come to be expected in Ireland’s youngest county. The budget is an increase of around €13m
Thursday, November 11, 2021Managing Aircraft Noise From Dublin Airport – Have Your Say in Public Consultation
The Aircraft Noise Competent Authority (ANCA) is holding a 14-week public consultation on its draft recommendations regarding daa’s application to amend aircraft operating restrictions at Dublin Airport when the new north runway opens. The public consultation will inform ANCA’s final direction to the Planning Authority before it rules on daa’s application next year. ANCA’s recommendations are:Introduce a Noise Abatement Objective for Dublin Airport - the first of its kind in Ireland – as a long-term plan
Thursday, November 11, 2021Fingal Chamber welcomes commencement of the Aircraft Noise Competent Authority's public consultation on Dublin Airport’s new North Runway
Fingal Chamber of Commerce welcomes the commencement of the Aircraft Noise Competent Authority’s (ANCA) 14-week public consultation process regarding nighttime restrictions on Dublin Airport’s new North Runway. Welcoming this consultation phase in the delivery of 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
Wednesday, November 10, 2021Chambers Ireland releases Irish data from the Eurochambres Economic Survey for 2022, Europe’s larges
Chambers Ireland has today launched the results of the Irish survey of businesses which contributed to the Eurochambres Economic Survey for 2022 (EES2022). 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 1700 regional and local Chambers has been conducting these surveys continuously since 2002. The European Data is optimistic but there are
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Tuesday, November 09, 2021Considerations for managing employees’ annual leave
As we enter the closing months of 2021, many employers will find that some employees still have not taken their full annual leave entitlement. In fact, some may still be carrying leave from 2020 given the ongoing health crisis. Adare Human Resource Management has some advice on how to manage a situation where employees have not taken their annual leave. It’s worth noting that taking annual leave is important for the health and wellbeing of the employee. It gives them an opportunity to relax and
Friday, November 05, 2021Rush producer wins inaugural Sustainable Business Competition
A local producer of Irish cucumbers has been named by Fingal County Council as the winner of its first-ever Sustainable Business Competition. Welgro Produce, based in Rush, won the accolade as part of an initiative aimed at encouraging businesses across Fingal to implement more sustainable approaches into their day-today operations. The farm, only began operations in 2020 after taking over Thomas Collins and Jim Carthy’s three-acre cucumber farm. Since then, Welgro has been successfully delivering its
Friday, November 05, 2021Christmas shopping starts early with spend on toys, gaming and clothes rising
Re-Opening of Late-Night Economy Provides Timely Boost to Social SectorSpending on toys and games soars by 58% in OctoberBoI analysis reveals spending surge in central Dublin nightclubsSpending for the month down slightly when compared with September Christmas shopping has started early, with October spending on toys and gaming spiking by 58% and outlay in family clothing stores rising by 8%, according to Bank of Ireland’s card data. While many parents stole a march on the pre-Christmas rush, overall
Thursday, November 04, 2021Fingal Inclusion Week 2021 – It’s for Everyone!
There is something for every taste in the fantastic programme planned for the third Fingal Inclusion Week with over 76 events taking place around the County. The week, which runs from November 15th to November 21st is an initiative of Fingal County Council Community Office, the Integration Officer and the Fingal Public Participation Network. Fingal Inclusion Week aims to highlight the positive work that communities, agencies and other organisations are involved in to reduce social exclusion and poverty
Thursday, November 04, 2021Bank of Ireland welcomes ambitious Climate Action Plan
"Achieving these targets will be challenging, but doing so could not be more important. For the planet there’s no Plan B." Bank of Ireland has today welcomed the publication of an ambitious Climate Action Plan for Ireland which sets out emissions reductions and practical measures to help meet climate targets. Speaking today, Bank of Ireland Chief Strategy Officer Mark Spain said: “At Bank of Ireland we are committed to doing all we can to support the national effort to combat climate change. We launched
Tuesday, November 02, 2021Employers encouraged to continue to allow Employee work from home
On 19th October, the Government gave its latest update on the lifting of Covid-19 related restrictions. It had been hoped that all restrictions would be lifted on Friday, 22nd October but due to the ongoing high number of people getting infected, some of these restrictions have been put on hold. So what does this mean for employers and employees? An Tánaiste, Leo Varadkar has said that a full return to workplaces may not be possible until next Spring. Public health advice is that employees should be
Monday, November 01, 2021Fingal celebrates diversity across the county with launch of “We Are Fingal Campaign”
Fingal County Council has today unveiled a new campaign around efforts to build a more socially integrated community that not only accepts and respects everyone’s differences but celebrates the important contributions that residents make locally. The “We Are Fingal" campaign will highlight the work the Council have been doing to help support its citizens and demonstrate the commitment it has to ensure it meets the needs of the hugely diverse population that can be found across the county. The campaign
Friday, October 29, 2021Riot Games announce global production boost to be driven from new Fingal facility
The news that Riot Games, the developer and publisher best known for League of Legends, has chosen a location in Swords for its new Remote Broadcast and Content Production Centre has been welcomed by Fingal County Council. Announcing that the new digital broadcast and production facilities will open in Airside Retail Park by January 2022, the decision by Riot Games to expand their operations means over 120 new jobs will be created locally. Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, AnnMarie Farrelly
Friday, October 29, 2021Council offering free effective leadership programme for women of Fingal
To help women develop their leadership skills and learn about how to initiate positive change, Fingal County Council has announced that it will be running a new programme She Leads, We Lead for local residents, with sessions led by a team of women who have all championed change in their own communities through effective leadership. Starting on November 15, the free eight-week programme will explore the achievements, challenges and opportunities that women can experience through community action. The
Wednesday, October 27, 2021Transformation of Ireland’s youngest town continues
Two years on from the launch of the Our Balbriggan Rejuvenation Plan 2019-2025, the transformation of Ireland’s youngest town is taking shape, with substantial progress made across a range of objectives in all five of the Plan’s pillars. The latest advancement in the improvement of the public realm has seen demolition commence of the derelict O’Shea’s building at the Harbour, where work is expected to be completed by the end of January 2022. Over the period 2020- 2027, Fingal County Council anticipate
Friday, October 22, 2021Acquisition by Bank of Ireland of KBC Bank Ireland plc’s performing loan portfolios and deposits
Further to the Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) announced on 16 April 2021, and following completion of a due diligence process, the Group has today entered into a binding agreement with KBCI and KBC Group for the acquisition of c.€8.8[1] billion of performing mortgages, c.€0.1 billion of performing commercial and consumer loans and c.€4.4 billion of deposits. The Group will acquire the performing mortgages for 103.6% of par value, representing the fair value of the assets and demonstrating the quality
Wednesday, October 13, 2021Councillors approve Council’s €784m Capital Programme
Councillors have approved Fingal County Council’s €784m three-year Capital Programme which provides for significant investment on projects across the County during period from 2022 to 2024. It represents a €17m increase on the previous Capital Plan with the 2022-2024 programme identifying 237 individual projects with an estimated spend of €783.73m over the three years. The Programme projects a capital spend in 2022 of €237m, followed by €265m in 2023 and a further €282m in 2023. Just over half of the
Tuesday, October 12, 2021Chambers Ireland welcomes Budget 2022 but critical issue of town centres and vacancies has yet to be tackled
Chambers Ireland, the voice of business throughout Ireland, has welcomed the Government’s focus on capital investment, childcare, and remote working in Budget 2022. Speaking this afternoon, Chambers Ireland CEO Ian Talbot said: Business Supports “Chambers Ireland welcomes the Government’s commitment to supporting businesses throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. This has secured jobs, prevented permanent closures and provided an opportunity for the country to recover more quickly than anticipated. Our
Tuesday, October 12, 2021Budget 2022: Skillnet Ireland welcomes investment in talent
Skillnet Ireland, a business support agency of the Government of Ireland, has welcomed the focus on talent within Budget 2022 and the Government’s decision to increase its funding allocation for 2022. Today’s budget saw Skillnet Ireland receive total exchequer funding of €42 million for 2022 through the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. As the economy recovers, investment in talent development remains vital in preparing businesses for future challenges including
Wednesday, October 06, 2021September Spending Reveals Slowdown in Consumer Activity
Spending for the month down 6% compared with AugustSocial spending down on the previous month; education spend soarsAccommodation outlay falls significantly – county by county declines recorded 6th October 2021: Bank of Ireland debit and credit card transactions in September dropped (-6%) when compared to the previous month as consumer activity nationwide slowed down. The data reveals an overall decline in social spending (-11%) as people returned to their more regular routines following a busy August
Friday, October 01, 2021Fingal’s Keen To Be Green Facilities Project Launched
The launch of Fingal’s Keen To Be Green Facilities Project took place at the Clayton Hotel Dublin Airport yesterday. Many representatives from the participating community facilities were present as part of the Fingal Community Facilities Network. Fingal’s ‘Keen To Be Green’ Project is a collaboration between Fingal County Council’s Community Development Office and Environment Department and the Fingal Community Facilities Network. The project was officially launched by Deputy Mayor of Fingal,
Tuesday, September 28, 2021Sustainable Swords Strategic Priorities Open for Consultation
In spring of 2021 Fingal County Council invited local residents and businesses, to get involved in the Sustainable Swords place making project. The ‘Your Swords, Your Say’ survey gave people an opportunity to share their opinions and comments on how to best develop Swords sustainably. Insights from the research survey have been brought together with the Fingal County Development Plan 2017-2023 in preparation of these emerging themes. Fingal County Council is now very pleased to present the Emerging
Tuesday, September 28, 2021Consumer confidence steady, while business sentiment slips in September
Consumer confidence steady, while business sentiment slips in September · Firms view housing as the priority area for infrastructure investment · Two thirds report an increase in non-labour input costs in past 3 months · 83% of households expect house prices to rise and 75% think rents will go up Embargo Monday 27th September 2021: The Bank of Ireland Economic Pulse came in at 88.3 in September 2021. The index, which combines the results of the Consumer and Business Pulses, was
Thursday, September 23, 2021Team ACE: Working together to win the Deloitte Best Managed Company Award, for the 13th year in a ro
The ‘Perfect Storm’ of COVID and BREXIT has made this a year like no other for the team at Ace Express Freight, a family owned freight and logistics company based at Blakes Cross, Lusk, North County Dublin. Ace Express Freight have grown from humble beginnings back in 1989 to become one of the leading independent freight and logistics companies in Ireland, with a team of 160 staff and contractors, 235,000 square feet of owned warehouse space, a nationwide distribution network in Ireland and the UK, and
Wednesday, September 22, 2021Chambers Ireland calls for accelerated action on the SDGs during 76th UN General Assembly
Along with Heads of State, Chief Executives, and social and business leaders, Chambers Ireland joined the UN Global Compact’s ‘Uniting Business Live’ summit at the 76th UN General Assembly and called for greater ambition and accelerated action on the SDGs ahead of COP26. Speaking this afternoon, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot outlined the importance of SMEs to future economic growth and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals: “Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) account for an
Monday, September 13, 2021Skillnet Ireland welcomes increase in Government funding in Budget 2021 to help businesses recover from impact of Covid-19 pandemic
Skillnet Ireland, a business support agency of the Government of Ireland, has welcomed the Government’s decision to increase its funding allocation by 15% in Budget 2021. The agency has received total funding for 2021 of €41 million in today’s budget through the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. Skillnet Ireland operates on a cost sharing basis with industry; the total investment in upskilling by Skillnet Ireland in 2021 is likely to exceed €60 million when
Thursday, September 09, 2021Fingal County Council launches free outdoor public Wi-Fi across Fingal towns and villages
The Mayor of Fingal, Councillor Seána Ó Rodaigh, the Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development, Minister Joe O’Brien and the Chairs of the three Area Committees officially launched free outdoor Public Wi-Fi hotspots in towns and villages across Fingal today. A total of 47 Wi-Fi access points have been installed in 18 locations throughout Fingal. There are seven live access points in Swords, with five in Malahide, Howth and Skerries and four in Rush. Donabate and
Thursday, September 09, 2021Council secures €600,000 in Fáilte Ireland funding for permanent Outdoor Dining facility in Howth
An application by Fingal County Council for the provision of a permanent Outdoor Dining facility in Howth has been awarded €600,000 in funding by Fáilte Ireland under the Outdoor Dining Enhancement Scheme. The Council is planning to create an all-weather dining area in the shape of a Viking ship which will be located at Howth Harbour and could be used for both dining and events. The project is one of 38 in 19 counties across Ireland which have received €9million in funding from Fáilte Ireland to create
Wednesday, September 01, 2021Deadline for applications for new Streetscape Enhancement funding approaching
Fingal County Council would like to remind groups and businesses in Skerries, Lusk, Rush, Donabate and Oldtown that the deadline for applications for the Town and Village Streetscape Enhancement scheme is September 7th. The funding supports the upgrade of shopfronts and building facades and the enhancement of streets and open space through painting, artwork, murals, signage replacement/removal, lighting and planting. Applications welcome at https://submit.link/mS with closing date September 7th. Fingal
Wednesday, August 25, 2021Fingal LCDC approves CEP funding for community and voluntary groups across the region
Fingal’s Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) has approved the allocation of over €152,000 to community and voluntary groups across the region under the 2021 Community Enhancement Programme. The Community Enhancement Programme (CEP) is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development and was launched nationally in May by the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, and the Minister of State with responsibility for Community Development and Charities, Joe
Wednesday, August 18, 2021Event Programme is launched for Dublin Climate Action Week, taking place from 13th to 19th September
The event programme and online registration have launched for Dublin’s first Climate Action Week (DCAW21), taking place from Monday 13th to Sunday 19th September 2021. A range of online and in-person climate action events are now open for registration at www.dublinclimateactionweek.ie. The broad range of events address the theme areas of Energy & Buildings, Transport, Flood Resilience, Nature Based Solutions, Resource Management and Citizen Engagement. The recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Friday, August 13, 2021Fingal Towns and Villages to benefit from new Streetscape Enhancement funding from the Department of Rural & Community Development
Fingal County Council has been awarded €260,000 in funding by the Department of Rural and Community Development under the new Town and Village Streetscape Enhancement Scheme 2021. This Scheme is providing €7 million nationally as part of Our Rural Future, a five-year strategy to revitalise rural Ireland and make our rural towns and villages more vibrant and attractive places to live, work and visit. The funding aims to support the upgrade of shopfronts and building facades and the enhancement of streets
Wednesday, August 11, 2021Fingal County Council Welcomes New Street Malahide Decision
Fingal County Council welcomes today’s High Court decision to refuse an application for an injunction to reverse the pedestrianisation of New Street in Malahide. The judicial review proceedings are to be dealt with at a later date. The Council pedestrianised New Street to provide a safe outdoor space which facilitated social distancing and outdoor dining in line with Government policy and NPHET recommendations around living with Covid-19. The result was a safe environment for the community to enjoy and go
Tuesday, August 03, 2021Strand Road High Court decision must not undermine progress on making our cities and towns more peop
Chambers Ireland is concerned about the consequences of the Strand Road cycle path decision. Our cities and towns have needed a renewal and revitalisation effort for many years. The problems which existed in our urban areas before the pandemic have only become worse in recent months. Covid-19 has amplified the negative impact that poor planning, inadequate housing supply and commercial vacancies continue to have on our urban areas. Some small steps were made to improve our public spaces over the course
Friday, July 30, 2021Your Guide to the EU Digital Covid Certificate with Europe Direct, Blanchardstown Library
Europe Direct Blanchardstown has published a series of video interviews on the topic of the EU Digital Covid Certificate. The aim of the interview series is to inform the public as to the purpose of the certificate and how it can be used to facilitate travel within the European Union. The interviews were organised by Europe Direct Manager Siobhan Walshe and recorded by Assistant Coordinator Barry O’Carroll. There were three interviewees in total: Barbara Nolan – Head of the European Commission
Monday, July 26, 2021Economic Pulse down slightly in July but remains above pre-pandemic level
Business sentiment little changed, while consumer confidence dipsHouseholds more wary about the economic outlookFirms seeing an improvement in trading conditions The Bank of Ireland Economic Pulse came in at 89.3 in July 2021. The index, which combines the results of the Consumer and Business Pulses, was 0.5 lower than last month but up 27.4 on a year ago. The Delta variant of COVID-19 and the delay to the resumption of indoor hospitality dominated the news flow this month but did little to dent the
Friday, July 23, 2021Fingal welcomes Funding under Connected Hubs Scheme
Fingal County Council is delighted to welcome €115k funding under the #OurRuralFuture Connected Hubs Scheme which will help to facilitate remote working. Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, announced over €8.8 million in funding under the Connected Hubs Scheme – a key deliverable of Our Rural Future. The funding will enable existing hubs and broadband connection points to enhance and add capacity to remote working infrastructure in every region across Ireland. Grants will
Thursday, July 22, 2021Acquisition by Bank of Ireland of Davy - Ireland’s leading wealth and capital markets provider
The Group announces that it has reached an agreement to acquire J&E Davy (“Davy”), Ireland’s leading provider of wealth management and capital markets services, for an enterprise value of €440 million, subject to certain customary adjustments including capital at completion (the “Enterprise Value”). 25 percent of the Enterprise Value will be paid two years after completion subject to Davy shareholders meeting a number of agreed criteria. The balance will be paid as cash consideration on completion, which
Thursday, July 22, 2021North Dublin Car Leasing Firm Company Lands National All-Star Accolade
Swords fleet management and car leasing firm Haines Fleet has been named Independent Fleet Solutions Company Of The Year by the All-Ireland Business Foundation. Like many other businesses around the country, Haines Fleet has experienced challenging months. The company has however enjoyed the experience of providing flexibility to its many clients thus adding greatly to relationships. Managing Director Eugene Haines says the company has enjoyed a “significant uplift in business”, in running with the inward
Tuesday, July 20, 2021Fingal Chamber officers meet with the new Mayor of Fingal
Fingal Chamber held its first meeting with the newly-elected Mayor of Fingal Cllr Seána Ó'Rodaigh at the Skerries Mills tourist attraction this week. Councillor Seána Ó Rodaigh of the Labour Party was elected as Mayor of Fingal at the annual meeting of Fingal County Council which was held in June. Cllr Ó Rodaigh, who represents the Balbriggan Local Electoral Area, was first elected as a councillor in 2019. Based in Skerries, she works as a teacher in St Patrick’s Senior National School in the town. The
Monday, July 19, 2021Dublin Airport Ready to Welcome Back Passengers As International Travel Restrictions Are Lifted
July 19, 2021: Dublin and Cork Airports are ready to welcome back passengers as Irish restrictions on international travel for non-essential reasons are lifted today. “Today is a hugely exciting and much anticipated day as Ireland fully re-opens for international travel. Our Operational Readiness Team, encompassing every department across both airports, has been planning extensively for this day so that all our customers have as safe and as pleasant an experience when travelling through our airports,”
Friday, July 16, 2021Appetite for saving drops as re-opening kicks in
Slight increase in Savings & Investment Index, buoyed by investment sentimentConfidence about life in retirement continues to strengthenWorries about everyday bills and job security lessen Embargoed Friday 16th July 2021: While Bank of Ireland’s Savings and Investment Index, which was declining pre-pandemic, has surged over the past year, the first signs are emerging that the appetite for saving is dropping. In May last year, 55% of people surveyed indicated they saw it as a good time to save, but this has
Thursday, July 15, 2021More than 1,000 Submissions Received as Royal Canal Urban Greenway Consultation Closes
Fingal County Council has received more than 1,000 submissions and surveys from members of the public in relation to the proposed route for the Royal Canal Urban Greenway. The most recent six week-long phase of consultation ended on Wednesday, July 7. This non-statutory consultation invited the public to share their views on the proposed route. Submissions were accepted through Fingal County Council’s Consultation Portal website, via survey or written submission, and written submissions were also
Tuesday, July 13, 2021Councillors vote to give householders 10% reduction on Local Property Tax
Householders in Fingal will see their 2021 Local Property Tax bills reduced by 10% following a decision by councillors at last night’s monthly meeting of Fingal County Council. The elected members in Fingal voted by 31 votes to eight to reduce the Local Property Tax by 10%. Councillors have the option each year to make an adjustment in the Local Property Tax of up to 15% and this is the fifth successive year that bills have been reduced by 10%. The Chief Executive of Fingal County Council,
Monday, July 12, 2021Design Team appointed to Swords Cultural Quarter project
The Swords Cultural Quarter has taken a major step forward with the appointment of the integrated design team which will be led by award-winning architects O’Donnell and Tuomey. The announcement was made at this evening’s monthly meeting of Fingal County Council by County Architect Fionnuala May when she gave councillors an update on the project. With the design team now in place, the project, which was launched in 2016, will now proceed at pace with the Council intending to initiate a Part 8 planning
Wednesday, July 07, 2021Strategic partnership to support Greater Dublin Chamber Alliance members’ return to the workplace
Adare Human Resource Management to provide expert advice and guidance to support members with the safe return to the workplace As business owners start returning employees back to the workplace, they face new challenges as a result of Covid-19. Employee vaccinations, remote working and a renewed focus on employee health and safety are some of the issues facing employers. In order to support more than 2,000 businesses, the Greater Dublin Chamber Alliance has announced a strategic partnership with Adare
Monday, July 05, 2021Implementation Group set up to oversee delivery of Fingal Skills Strategy
A Fingal Skills Strategy Implementation Group has been set-up to deliver the objectives of the Fingal Skills Strategy, which was published in 2019. The Group is chaired by Siobhan Kinsella, former President of both Chambers Ireland and Fingal Chamber and a director at the Noel Recruitment Group. Ms Kinsella was also Chairperson of the Fingal Skills Strategy Advisory Group which originally produced the Fingal Skills Strategy, the first of its kind in Ireland. The Implementation Group brings
Wednesday, June 30, 2021Council to begin process of procuring new operator for Malahide and Newbridge attractions
Fingal County Council will immediately begin the process of procuring a new operator for its successful attractions at Malahide Castle, Newbridge House and the Casino Model Railway Museum following the decision of Shannon Heritage to withdraw from their contract. The Council was disappointed to learn of Shannon Heritage’s decision and will continue to work with them as we move into a six-month transitionary period. The properties in Malahide and Donabate, which include Malahide Castle, the Butterfly
Friday, June 18, 2021Council elects new Mayor and Deputy Mayor for 2021/22
Councillor Seána Ó Rodaigh of the Labour Party was elected as Mayor of Fingal at the annual meeting of Fingal County Council which was held today at the Grand Hotel, Malahide. Cllr Daniel Whooley of the Green Party was elected as Deputy Mayor. Cllr Ó Rodaigh won a vote against Cllr Joan Hopkins (Social Democrats) and Cllr Punam Rane (Fine Gael) in the election for Mayor while Cllr Whooley overcame Cllr Natalie Treacy (Sinn Fein) in the election for Deputy Mayor. Cllr Ó Rodaigh, who represents the
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Wednesday, June 16, 2021Fingal County Council to participate in Dublin Climate Action Week this September
The first Dublin Climate Action Week (#DCAW21), will take place from Monday, September 13 to Sunday, September 19, and is being planned to demonstrate the ongoing efforts, ambitions and the collaborative approach of the four Dublin local authorities, in addressing climate action. The week is being organised and delivered by the partnership of Fingal County Council, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, South Dublin County Council, Dublin City Council, Codema – Dublin’s Energy Agency and the Dublin
Tuesday, June 08, 2021Fingal Community Groups invited to apply for Community Enhancement Programme Funding
Community and voluntary groups in Fingal are invited to apply for funding to the 2021 Community Enhancement Programme. The Community Enhancement Programme provides small grants to enhance facilities in urban and rural communities. Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, and Minister of State with responsibility for Community Development and Charities, Joe O’Brien TD, recently announced €4.5 million in funding nationally to support community groups impacted by COVID-19. The CEP
Tuesday, June 08, 2021Chambers Ireland urges flexibility from business to support vaccination of staff
As the impact of the vaccine rollout continues to show promise, Chambers Ireland calls on Irish businesses to be flexible in facilitating employees to receive their vaccine. Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot said, “As the National Vaccination Programme moves to vaccinate people in their 40s and younger, businesses in Ireland can show continued leadership by communicating their encouragement to staff and supporting them to receive their vaccine at the earliest opportunity. Employers have
Tuesday, June 01, 2021Expansion of the Rural LEADER Programme in Dublin has been announced
Rural Communities and Enterprises in Dublin have received a major boost with the announcement that the geographical area eligible for funding under the LEADER Programme has been significantly expanded. LEADER is an EU funded programme administered by Local Action Groups (LAGs) and supported by the Department of Rural and Community Development. The main aim of LEADER is to strengthen the rural economy and to improve the quality of life in rural areas. LEADER focuses on the key principles of innovation,
Monday, May 31, 2021Economic Pulse shows momentum in the Irish economy is building
Consumer and business sentiment rises in Bank of Ireland Economic PulseHouseholds more upbeat about the economy and prospects for jobsPost-Brexit trade frictions are adding to business costs The Bank of Ireland Economic Pulse came in at in 89.5 in May 2021. The index, which combines the results of the Consumer and Business Pulses, was 4.1 higher than last month and up 45.6 on a year ago. With a further loosening of restrictions on social interactions, the resumption of inter-county travel, some sectors
Friday, May 28, 2021Sustained support and stimulus for local economies must be at centre of Recovery Plan, says Chambers
Ahead of an announcement on the further reopening of society and economic activity, Chambers Ireland is today (28 May 2021) calling on Government to ensure businesses are given the best opportunity to succeed by publishing clear timelines for summer reopening, extending supports to the end of 2021 and providing an additional stimulus for towns and cities. We also ask for a long-term strategy to support the tourism and hospitality sectors. Speaking today, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot
Monday, May 17, 2021Construction on Snugborough Interchange continues with closure of pedestrian underpass
Fingal County Council has advised people living in the Dublin 15 area that, as part of the construction work on the Snugborough Interchange in Blanchardstown, the existing pedestrian underpass will close today (May 17). This is necessary to complete the works safely. Pedestrians have been advised that a diversion route will be in place over the bridge via the footpaths and controlled interchange. The duration of the closure will be minimised as much as possible. Other works to be carried out in the
Friday, May 14, 2021Council urge residents and stakeholders to get involved in Sustainable Swords project
Fingal County Council has urged local residents and stakeholders to get involved in the Sustainable Swords placemaking project which is focused on the regeneration and compact, sustainable development of the town. The ambition of Sustainable Swords is to provide a multi-faceted approach to the planning, design and management of new development and spaces, as well as the protection and enhancement of existing assets in order to achieve better quality places as the physical setting for life in
Thursday, April 29, 2021daa Records €284m Loss Due To Impact Of COVID-19 On Travel
daa, which operates Dublin and Cork airports and has businesses in 15 overseas markets, recorded a loss of €284 million last year due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Passenger numbers at its two Irish airports fell by 78% to just 7.9 million in 2020, compared to 35.5 million in 2019. Almost all of the airport retail outlets that daa operates in Ireland and overseas were closed for extended periods during the year. Turnover declined by 69% from €935 million in 2019 to €291 million last year, as
Tuesday, April 27, 2021World Immunisation Week warning - €7.6 trillion economic losses could result from failure to vaccina
A study commissioned by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Research Foundation warns the global economy stands to lose as much as €7.6 trillion if governments fail to ensure developing economies get access to COVID-19 vaccines. The research has been highlighted by Chambers Ireland and UNICEF Ireland to mark World Immunisation Week. The event aims to increase confidence in the value and effectiveness of vaccines in general, and COVID-19 vaccinations in particular. This year’s theme is
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Monday, April 26, 2021Join the Conversation at the Fingal Coastal Way Consultation Webinars
Fingal County Council has commenced a second round of public consultation on the Fingal Coastal Way, the proposed 32km coastal pedestrian and cycle greenway extending from Newbridge Demesne in Donabate to north of Balbriggan. To provide an opportunity for interested parties to give feedback on the potential route options, an online non-statutory public consultation will take place from April 15 to May 27. Due to current public health restrictions on gatherings, it is not possible to hold a traditional,
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Tuesday, April 20, 2021Fingal Chamber calls for Government to advance Ireland’s Aviation Restart Plan 2021 without delay
Anthony Cooney, Chief Executive Officer, Fingal Chamber said:“The implementation of an exit strategy from the current Covid-19 restrictions is urgent and critical for the aviation sector. Such actions are required to re-open and re-establish our international connectivity and ensure that the economy is supported to deliver the recovery that will be vital for the country. Connectivity is hugely important for Ireland, as it is one of the world’s most open economies. It supports jobs and important economic
Monday, April 19, 2021Council introduces economic stimulus measures for 2021
Fingal County Council continues its efforts under the Fingal In It Together Charter to support businesses with the introduction of three economic stimulus measures to assist businesses as they reopen. The Council is encouraging local hospitality and tourism providers to apply for grant funding under Fáilte Ireland’s new Outdoor Dining Enhancement Investment Scheme aimed at assisting the sector in increasing their outdoor dining capacity. Grants of up to €4,000 are available under the Outdoor
Thursday, April 15, 2021Aer Lingus calls on Government to finalise and facilitate implementation of Ireland's Aviation Restart Plan
Aer Lingus today called on Government to urgently facilitate the implementation of Ireland’s Aviation Restart Plan 2021. Donal Moriarty, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Aer Lingus said: “The need for a data-driven, risk-based Irish roadmap to reopen international travel is urgent. This will enable the restoration of connectivity and ensure that the economy is supported to deliver the recovery that will be vital for the country. “With the publication of Ireland’s Aviation Restart Plan today by the
Tuesday, April 13, 2021International banking alliance welcomes Bank of Ireland to its member network
IBOS Association (IBOS), an international banking network, is delighted to announce its newest member, Bank of Ireland (BoI). Bank of Ireland enriches IBOS’s strong geographic coverage in Europe and provides specialist local knowledge to help companies thrive in Ireland, generating compelling global opportunities for all IBOS member banks. As a unique international alliance, consisting of some of the largest banks in the world, the network allows IBOS members to provide local banking services across
Tuesday, April 13, 2021Fingal County Council and Fingal Chamber to hold local online forums to engage with the business community
Fingal Chamber, in partnership with Fingal County Council, is set to host "Local Area Business Forums" online to give businesses an update on the local authority’s supports and plans for economic development, enterprise, and tourism. Each webinar event will feature presentations from Fingal County Council’s Chief Executive AnnMarie Farrelly, and Director of Economic, Enterprise, Tourism & Cultural Development, Emer O'Gorman. These briefings will also be followed by Q&A sessions. The forum for
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Friday, March 26, 2021LEO Fingal Partners with Google Digital Garage to Host Free Digital Skills Webinar Series
Local Enterprise Office Fingal, in partnership with Google’s Digital Garage, will host a series of five free digital skills training webinars for small businesses in the Fingal Region. Google Digital Garage is part of Google’s global business support initiative, Grow with Google, that aims to help people and businesses acquire the skills needed to embrace the opportunities that technology presents in today’s working world. Google Digital Garage provides free online and live webinar digital skills training
Wednesday, March 24, 2021Chambers Ireland echoes call of European business community for focus on economic recovery ahead of European Council meeting
Prior to his participation in the Tripartite Social Summit on 24 March and in the run-up to the online European Council starting the following day, EUROCHAMBRES President Christoph Leitl has called on EU leaders to give Europe’s struggling business community cause for optimism. “The rollout of the vaccination programme is of course critical for our citizens’ well-being, but it also crucial to helping the economy get back on track. Our businesses need a shot in the arm too!”, said President
Wednesday, March 24, 2021A more family-friendly workplace is essential to children’s wellbeing and will be critical to post-pandemic recovery, Chambers Ireland and UNICEF Ireland say in joint statement
Chambers Ireland and UNICEF Ireland have together issued a call to action for more family-friendly workplaces. The COVID-19 pandemic has upended the lives of children and their families as health systems are put under strain and schools and businesses close. This has contributed to additional pressure on employees, customers and their children. Investing in measures that promote the wellbeing of all stakeholders is a critical way for businesses to protect the productivity and longevity of their
Friday, March 19, 2021Fingal Chamber announces Community Fund grant recipients as it supports community groups and project
Fingal Chamber has awarded over €15,000 to community-led projects and activities under the new Fingal Chamber Community Fund, with the announcement made at a special online event with Minister Joe O'Brien. Established in 2020, the Fingal Chamber Community Committee, which oversees the fund, aims to create a Fingal which is sustainably developed for the benefit of the people who currently live and work here, and for future generations who will inherit the region. The Fingal Chamber Community Fund is
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Friday, March 12, 2021Small Business Assistance Scheme for Covid [SBASC] open for applications
Businesses in Fingal are being encouraged to apply for funding under a new assistance scheme launched by the Department of Enterprise Trade & Employment. The Small Business Assistance Scheme for COVID (SBASC) is intended to target those businesses with operating costs that do not qualify for the COVID Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS) operated by the Revenue Commissioners. Eligible applicants will be entitled to an initial payment of €4,000 for the period from January 1 to March 31, 2021 The Small
Monday, March 08, 2021International Women's Day is powered by the collective efforts of all says Fingal Chamber President
Collective action and shared ownership for driving gender parity is what makes International Women's Day successful. Gloria Steinem, world-renowned feminist, journalist, and activist once explained “The story of women's struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organization but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights.” The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can serve as ambitious yet also practical goals for businesses to strive towards. In 2019 Fingal
Monday, March 08, 2021‘COVID burden’ on women must be addressed by Government, says Chambers Ireland
On International Women’s Day (8 March 2021) Chambers Ireland calls on Government to ease the intensified ‘COVID burden’ on women by introducing policies focused on flexible work, parenting equality and the provision of affordable childcare. This aim must be at the centre of the National Economic Plan to ensure women are not left behind during the economic recovery. The call by Chambers Ireland follows the publication of research which showed that over half (57%) of female entrepreneurs in Ireland found
Monday, March 08, 2021First Virtual Local Enterprise Week a Success for Fingal
Over 2,000 budding entrepreneurs and business owners in Fingal have taken part in online events this week, marking Local Enterprise Week (LEW), from the 1st – 5th March, which has been hailed as a success by Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Fingal. An annual initiative from the 31 LEOs around the country, including LEO Fingal, more than 270 events took place online under the theme of ‘Making It Happen’ attracting over 10,700 bookings nationally. Supported by Fingal County Council (FCC) and Enterprise Ireland
Monday, March 01, 2021Bank of Ireland announces significant changes to branch network and local banking services
Bank of Ireland announces significant changes to branch network and local banking services Branch network will reduce by 88, from 257 locations to 169, from September; New partnership with An Post will offer customers access to a range of banking services at more than 900 locations; Changes respond to the acceleration in digital banking which has now reached a ‘tipping point’, and follow rollout of range of new digital services during 2020; €12 million to be invested in resized branch network by
Monday, March 01, 2021Bank of Ireland Group plc Publishes Annual Results for the 12 months to 31st December 2020
Comment: Francesca McDonagh, Bank of Ireland Group CEO: “Through an exceptionally challenging year, our focus was on supporting our customers through every stage of the COVID-19 crisis while continuing to deliver our strategy. When COVID-19 hit, we radically changed how we operate so that we could provide the services our customers needed, including payment breaks for mortgages and business loans. Our speed of response was made possible by the investments we have made in transforming our culture,
Monday, February 22, 2021Chambers Ireland Calls for Greater Ambition and Accelerated Pace in Delivering Strategic Infrastructure
Chambers Ireland today (22 Feb 2021) calls on Government to put climate action, urban renewal, and gender equality at the heart of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan and National Development Plan. Speaking this afternoon, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot said “The key messages coming from our Network are that Government action must be accelerated and more ambitious. The Irish economy has faced incredible challenges over the past 12 months, the demands that the Brexit process and
Tuesday, February 16, 2021ANCA commences assessment of aircraft noise at Dublin Airport
The Aircraft Noise Competent Authority (ANCA) will commence an assessment of the noise situation at Dublin Airport following a planning application (Planning reference F20A/0668) recently made by the Dublin Airport Authority to Fingal County Council’s Planning Department. The application from the Dublin Airport Authority is to alter planning conditions associated with a previous planning permission relating to operating restrictions at Dublin Airport. ANCA is responsible for ensuring that noise
Monday, February 15, 2021Fingal receives €14 million boost in funding from NTA investment in Walking and Cycling Infrastructure
As part of a total of €240 million investment for all local authorities across the country, this funding will support many projects in development. There are a mix of continuing, new and older projects in the list to support sustainable transport projects across the county. €14,870,000 provided from the NTA will help progress 23 projects over the county such as the Royal Canal Cycle Route, Harry Reynolds Road Cycle Track, Donabate Estuary walking and cycling route and the Broadmeadow Way. These projects
Tuesday, February 09, 2021New COVID Aid Scheme Welcome But More Detail Needed, says Chambers Ireland
Chambers Ireland welcomes the announcement by Government that COVID business grants will be expanded. Speaking this afternoon Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot said, “We have raised a number of concerns with Government as to the very narrow qualifying criteria for CRSS, which excluded far too many businesses- particularly those who were in the immediate supply chain and have seen much of their business wiped out to closures of hospitality and retail business. The proposed new COVID Business
Tuesday, February 09, 2021Council appoints BAM to upgrade the Snugborough Interchange at Blanchardstown
Following a competitive tender process, Fingal County Council has appointed BAM Civil Ltd. to undertake the construction of the Snugborough Interchange Upgrade Scheme in Blanchardstown, Dublin 15. The project, co-funded by the National Transport Authority, includes the construction of a second bridge over the N3 national primary route as well as new bus lanes, footpaths, protected cycle tracks and traffic lanes giving improved accessibility to Blanchardstown Shopping Centre and the Dublin Enterprise Zone
Thursday, January 21, 2021Emergency funding available for community and voluntary groups in Fingal
The Fingal Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) would like to invite applications from community, not-for-profit and voluntary groups for funding under the COVID-19 Emergency Fund which is available from today until 26 February. The online application form and guidelines are available on Fingal County Council’s website at https://submit.link/8vh4J. The COVID-19 Emergency Fund is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development and administered by the Local Community Development
Thursday, January 21, 2021Existing Financial Supports Too Restrictive - Chambers Ireland Calls for Fresh Approach and Expansion of Payments
Chambers Ireland today (21 January 2020) calls on Government to substantially rethink and refresh the range of COVID-19 supports available to businesses over the coming months. Speaking this morning, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot called Government to urgently examine the suitability and effectiveness of existing supports, with a view to both their expansion and a clear transition process for their gradual removal to allow time for businesses to recover in the period immediately after
Friday, January 15, 2021Fingal County Council meets its energy efficiency target for 2020 as first Climate Change Action Plan Progress Report published
The first Annual Progress Report on Fingal County Council’s Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP) was published and presented to councillors this week. The report presented to councillors showed that in 2020, the implementation of the Plan is well underway, the Council achieved its targets of a 33% improvement in energy efficiency a year ahead of schedule and became certified in an ISO 50001 compliant energy management system. The CCAP was first published in September 2019 and outlined 130 actions in total
Friday, January 15, 2021Remote Work Strategy an Ambitious Vision for Future of Work- Chambers Ireland Calls for Acceleration of Broadband Plan
Chambers Ireland today (15 January 2021) welcomes the publication by Tánaiste Leo Varadkar of the National Remote Working Strategy “Making Remote Work”. The report commits to an acceleration of the National Broadband Plan, investment in remote hubs, reviewing tax treatment and introducing legislative changes on rights to request remote working. Speaking this morning, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot said, “The Strategy is an ambitious vision for the future of work in Ireland and the
Monday, January 11, 2021Fingal Town and Villages share €190,000 in new funding from the Town and Village Renewal Scheme
Fingal Town and Villages share €190,000 in new funding from the Town and Village Renewal Scheme. The new funding will support projects in St. Margarets, Balrothery, Rolestown and Lusk. Fingal County Council has been awarded €190,000 in funding by the Department of Rural and Community Development under the 2020 Town and Village Renewal Scheme. The funding is aimed at helping communities respond to COVID-19 through the development of outdoor amenities and the enhancement of public spaces together with an
Wednesday, January 06, 2021Government must avoid under-reacting to scale of latest pandemic crisis- Chambers Ireland calls for
Speaking this afternoon (6 January 2021) following Cabinet’s latest announcement, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot urged Government to expand financial supports for impacted businesses. “The Government’s announcement this afternoon of tighter restrictions will not have been the start to the new year many businesses and local economies were hoping for. However, with infection rates and hospitalisations beyond anything we have seen throughout 2020, the additional restrictions announced are
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Wednesday, January 06, 2021Fingal Chamber Title Change
Established in 1994 as the Swords & District Chamber of Commerce, the Chamber reached an agreement almost 9 years ago to absorb the Dublin 15 Chamber and become known as Fingal Dublin Chamber. 'Dublin' was included at the time to make the location more evident as it was felt at the time that the name Fingal was not recognisable enough. As the local authority, Fingal County Council and other highly visible manifestations of the Fingal brand have grown stronger you the members voted overwhelmingly to
Thursday, December 24, 2020Chambers Ireland Welcomes Agreement by UK-EU of New Trade Deal Customs and Other Challenges Remain
Chambers Ireland has today (24 December 2020) welcomed the announcement by the European Commission and UK Government that a trade deal has been agreed. Speaking today, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot said, “Today’s announcement will come as a significant relief to the many businesses who expect to continue trading with the UK. Without this agreement, there would be significant additional costs through tariffs defined by WTO Rules and we thank the negotiating teams for their tireless
Thursday, December 17, 2020Fingal Chamber President's Christmas Message
View the video My year as President has been more challenging than I could ever have imagined. The year started with great optimism even though we had the uncertainty of Brexit. The economy was good and the levels of employment were great. The arrival of the Covid pandemic fundamentally changed life for both business and our families. We were glued to news updates from the Taoiseach and Chief Medical Officer and Covid 19 became the defining event of 2020. Our sense of being social and engaging with
Thursday, December 10, 2020Chambers Ireland Welcomes ECB Action to Support Economy Through Threats of Brexit and COVID-19
Speaking earlier today, (10 December 2020) following the European Central Bank (ECB) announcement of the €500bn expansion of the Pandemic Emergency Purchasing Programme (PEPP), Chambers Ireland Chief Executive, Ian Talbot, said, “Today’s action by the ECB is welcome news. This injection of funding will help maintain liquidity and the low interest rates which are available to Eurozone member states like Ireland, allowing us to support our high level of public service, employment supports, and economic
Friday, December 04, 2020Fingal Chamber invites groups to apply for a share of new Community Fund
Fingal Chamber has issued an invite to groups to apply for funding under their new ‘Fingal Chamber Community Fund’ for community-led projects and activities in the region. This new fund totalling over €25,000 is financed by supporters and contributions from the Chamber and aims to support the community projects and activities which benefit the citizens of Fingal. The scheme is operated by Fingal Chamber’s Community Committee who are encouraging citizens to promote this new opportunity within their local
Friday, November 27, 2020A Sustainable Re-Opening Must Be The Objective, says Chambers Ireland following announcement on end of Level Five Restrictions
Chambers Ireland welcomes this evening’s (27 November) announcement from Government regarding the end of Level Five Restrictions which will allow the reopening of parts of the economy from next Wednesday the 2 December. Speaking after the announcement, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot said, “This evening’s announcement from Government will be widely welcomed by our member Chambers, and the businesses they represent. The importance of the Christmas period for local economies cannot be
Friday, November 27, 2020Great Success for Swords Tidy Towns in Pride of Place Awards
There was great success for Swords Tidy Towns representing Fingal at the IPB Pride of Place Awards which were announced on Saturday evening. The Virtual Award Ceremony was hosted by Marty Morrissey and featured a message to the community groups from President Michael D Higgins. While they weren’t able to be present at the awards ceremony as usually occurs, this didn’t lessen the excitement for Swords Tidy towns when the result was announced. Swords Tidy Towns achieved the runners up position in category
Friday, November 27, 2020Our Balbriggan nominated for top European award
Fingal County Council’s Our Balbriggan project has been short-listed for a top European award by The Innovation in Politics Institute, a Vienna-based organisation which works on a nonpartisan, pan-European level to enable politicians from different countries to share best practice, to network and to build bridges. The Our Balbriggan project is one of 10 finalists in the Democracy category which honours political work that increases participation of citizens in opinion forming and decision making. The
Friday, November 27, 2020Minister O’Brien visits Fingal County Council to discuss housing targets for 2021 and Covid-19 response
The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD, has paid a visit to Fingal County Council as part of a series of visits the Minister is planning with local authorities across the country to discuss housing delivery targets for 2021 and the response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Minister met with the Chief Executive, AnnMarie Farrelly, and some members of the Fingal management team to discuss and update him on the work the Council has done in such an unprecedented
Thursday, November 26, 2020‘Look for Local’ campaign Launched to Highlight Fingal Businesses
Businesses and consumers asked to #LookForLocal this Christmas and support Businesses and Jobs Consumers and businesses in Fingal are being encouraged to shop local this Christmas and are reminded of the huge range of goods and services they can access on their own doorsteps with a new Government campaign to ‘Look For Local’ launched on Wednesday 25th November 2020. As we all plan to have a safe Christmas, the Government is reminding people of how easy it is to shop and trade locally, and support their
Wednesday, November 25, 2020Fingal adopts budget of €286m for 2021
Fingal County Council has adopted a budget of €286m for 2021 which will ensure that services are maintained and enhanced into next year. It represents an increase of €16.3m from 2020 and is the equivalent of €966.78 per head of population. The Budget provides for increased expenditure in a number of key areas and also makes a level of provision for possible adverse effects due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Council’s finances. The Mayor of Fingal, Cllr David Healy said: “I am glad
Monday, November 23, 2020Fingal LCDC approves funding for community and voluntary groups across the region
ingal’s Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) has approved the allocation of over €260,000 to community and voluntary groups across the region under the 2020 Community Enhancement Programme (CEP) and the Community Enhancement Programme Community Centres and Community Facilities Scheme. Some €68,375.00 was allocated by the Department of Rural & Community Development to Fingal County Council for the Community Enhancement Programme 2020 and a further €192,805.00 in funding for the Community
Monday, November 23, 2020Tánaiste opens new Brexit Loan for small business
The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar TD today (23 November 2020) opened a new scheme to help small businesses prepare for Britain’s exit from the single market and customs union at the end of this year. The new Microfinance Ireland (MFI) Brexit Business Loan, will provide up to €25,000 to businesses whose turnover already is or is likely to fall 15% or more or if the business has a short term cashflow need as a result of Brexit. Loans are available for between six
Friday, November 20, 2020Government updates Protocol to protect staff in the workplace
Updated guidance for workers published in line with latest public health guidelines The Government today (20th November 2020) published updated guidance to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in the workplace to staff. The pandemic has affected every aspect of our lives. This updated Work Safely Protocol sets out the actions that need to be taken to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace. It contains information and practical advice on a range of topics such as the management and control of outbreaks,
Friday, November 20, 2020Chambers Ireland calls for intensified compliance efforts to contain the virus, reduce the R number in time for December re-opening and avoid more permanent job losses
Following an online meeting of CEOs of Chambers from across the country, Chambers Ireland calls for a focused effort by all over the remaining two weeks to reduce the spread of Covid-19, contain outbreaks and reduce the R number. Speaking today Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot said, “We urge the wider business community to continue to interpret the restrictions conservatively and ensure that any unnecessary congregation is reduced. If staff can work from home, then that is the only
Thursday, November 19, 2020Terminal 2 Celebrates Its Tenth Birthday
Terminal 2, which opened 10 years ago today on November 19, 2010 has welcomed more than 96.6 million passengers during the past decade. But for the impact of COVID-19 on this year’s traffic, T2 would have welcomed well over 100 million passengers in its first 10 years of operation. Not a bad performance for a terminal that some commentators claimed would be a white elephant. T2 was opened in the middle of a global economic crisis, but like all airport investments it was designed and built for decades to
Tuesday, November 17, 2020Council welcomes feedback on proposed R132 Connectivity Project
Fingal County Council launches public consultation on R132 connectivity project. Fingal County Council, in conjunction with the National Transport Authority seeks to improve connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists across and along the R132. Upgrade works to the R132 in Swords are proposed. These upgrade works will enhance facilities at and between key crossing points along the R132 outlined below, improving connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists travelling both north-south along and east-west
Tuesday, November 17, 2020Dublin Airport Wins Health & Safety Team of the Year 2020
Dublin Airport’s Occupational Health and Safety Team was named Health and Safety Team of the Year at the recent Health and Safety Excellence Awards for 2020. Held virtually due to COVID-19 restrictions, the awards recognise organisations in Ireland which have demonstrated excellence in safety over the past year. “This year has been a hugely challenging for all businesses and Dublin Airport in particular due to the rapid response required to implement COVID-19 safety measures across both terminals and
Monday, November 16, 2020COVID Testing Facilities To Open At Dublin Airport
Two COVID-19 testing facilities will open at Dublin Airport this Thursday. The testing facilities, which will be operated by healthcare firms Randox and RocDoc, will offer passengers and consumers the option of either a drive-through test or a walk-in test. Prices, which are set by the providers of the service, will start at €99 (see details below) and both PCR and LAMP testing will be available. The testing facilities are fully open to the public, whether they require a test for travel or for another
Friday, November 13, 2020Council urges shoppers to shop in Fingal this Christmas
Fingal County Council has launched a major campaign to encourage residents of the county to do their Christmas shopping in Fingal in order to protect local businesses and local jobs. The Fingal In It Together for Christmas campaign is the latest in a series of initiatives by the local authority to assist the business community in its recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The campaign includes an online Christmas Shop for business to advertise their Christmas offerings and a marketing
Friday, November 13, 2020Permission granted for Harry Reynolds Road Pedestrian and Cycle Route
Fingal County Council has granted Part 8 planning permission for the Harry Reynolds Road Pedestrian and Cycle Route in Balbriggan which will provide safe, segregated cycling and pedestrian routes for residents and schoolchildren. Costing an estimated €8.5m, the 3km route will be funded by the National Transport Authority as part of Greater Dublin Area Cycle Network Plan and is an important element of the developing sustainable and active travel network in the town. Linking a number of local
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Wednesday, November 11, 2020Investment of €1.14 million approved for New Projects in Rural Dublin
There is great news for rural areas in Fingal and Dublin with the final approval of €1.14 million in funding for 11 new projects. The Dublin Rural LEADER Local Action Group (LAG) which oversees the LEADER programme in Rural Dublin approved the investment in projects at an online meeting recently. The approved projects are in areas of Enterprise and Job Creation, Social Inclusion and Rural Environment. Ten of the projects approved for funding are based in Fingal. These will generate new enterprise
Wednesday, November 11, 2020“Places Matter”- New Reference Guide Illustrates Chamber-Led Best Practice in Supporting Local Economies
Chambers Ireland has today (11 November 2020) published its ‘Places Matter’ – Chamber Guide to Best Practice in Collaboration and Local Economic Development. Supported by An Post, the ‘Places Matter’ Guide contains best practice examples of collaboration from across the Chamber Network, Local Authorities and their agencies, and showcases the diverse initiatives to support economic growth and development that are driven by Chambers in the community. Speaking this morning, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive
Tuesday, November 10, 2020daa Welcomes Support Package For Irish Aviation Sector
daa, which operates Dublin and Cork airports, has welcomed today’s Government announcement of a financial support package for the Irish aviation sector. Cork Airport will be able to apply for operational and capital funding, while airport charges at both Dublin and Cork airports for the first quarter of next year will be included within in a new rebate scheme that will be funded by the State, subject to EU approval. “The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on Dublin and Cork airports and we
Monday, November 09, 2020Irish Government Adopts EU Traffic Light System
The Irish Government has implemented the new ‘traffic lights’ approach to travel, which applies to countries in the European Union/European Economic Area and to the UK. The Government’s current advice for travel to these countries is to “exercise a high degree of caution”. Its general advice for any other overseas travel remains to “avoid non-essential travel”. Within the ‘traffic lights’ system, regions across the EU, EEA and the UK are categorised as green, orange, red or grey, on the basis of the risk
Monday, November 09, 2020Passenger Numbers Down 91% In October
Almost 263,000 passengers travelled through Dublin Airport in October, a 91% decline compared to the same month last year, as COVID-19 continued to have a devastating impact on passenger numbers. Passenger volumes to and from continental Europe fell by 89%, as more than 172,000 people travelled to and from European destinations last month. UK traffic declined by 93% compared to last October, as more than 64,000 passengers travelled to and from Britain during the month. Passenger volumes to and from
Monday, November 09, 2020Pre-Christmas Boost to Help Promote Small Businesses
Local Enterprise Office Fingal has announced an exciting new "Shop Fingal" initiative to promote local businesses in the run-up to Christmas. Using print, radio, and digital media, LEO Fingal will help businesses increase their visibility while showing that they are open and available for trade. The Shop Fingal promotion also aims to raise awareness amongst both consumers and businesses about the importance of shopping locally and the ecosystem that exists when people support businesses in their
Monday, November 09, 2020Blanchardstown EDIC Interview Series explains the European Green Deal
The Blanchardstown Europe Direct Information Centre in conjunction with Fingal Libraries recently organised a series of online interviews on the topic of explaining the European Green Deal. There were five interviews in total with one posted daily between the 2nd and 6th November. The objective of the interview series was to introduce the public to the European Green Deal: its objectives and various strands. The conference was opened by the Mayor of Fingal, Cllr David Healy with County Librarian Betty
Friday, November 06, 2020Open, rules based global trade essential to Irish growth - Chambers Ireland calls for an Action Plan
Chambers Ireland today (6 November 2020) has published its submission to the European Commissioner for Trade as part of a public consultation for a revised trade strategy. The submission calls on the European Commission to ensure that the revised strategy emphasises the importance of open, rules-based trade. In future negotiations, trade agreements must prioritise SME-friendly access, support innovation, and align with the Sustainable Development Goals. Speaking this morning, Chambers Ireland Chief
Friday, November 06, 2020Tánaiste meets with biopharma companies on defeating Covid-19
The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Leo Varadkar TD today (Tuesday the 6th of October) convened a meeting with a number of IDA Ireland’s bio -pharmaceutical client companies to hear about the crucial role they are playing in the public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic, both nationally and internationally. The meeting, which was held over video conference included several of the bio pharmaceutical companies who are developing vaccines or therapeutic treatments in
Thursday, November 05, 2020New Look For Dublin Airport's Terminal 1
Dublin Airport’s Terminal 1 is to undergo a major facelift under plans that have been lodged with Fingal County Council. The core façade and the roof of the terminal are to be replaced with a new modern, energy efficient structure that will completely transform the external appearance of Terminal 1 and give it a new visual identity. The existing concrete fins, which are near the end of their life and need to replaced, will make way for a combination of glass and solid panels to create a fresh look for
Thursday, November 05, 2020Fingal Inclusion Week – it’s for Everyone!
Next week sees the second Fingal Inclusion Week with over 37 virtual events taking place around the County. The week, which runs from November 16th to 21st is an initiative of Fingal County Council Community Development Department and the Fingal Public Participation Network. Fingal Inclusion Week aims to highlight the positive work that communities, agencies and other organisations are involved in to reduce social exclusion and poverty in Fingal. Mayor of Fingal Councillor David Healy said: “Social
Thursday, November 05, 2020Fingal County Council launches grants to fight digital poverty under the Covid-19 Emergency Fund Scheme
Fingal County Council has launched a new initiative under the Covid-19 Emergency Fund Scheme aimed at addressing digital poverty by awarding grants of up to €3,000 to enable local groups and organisations provide access to digital technology for the most vulnerable in the community. Covid-19 has seen services, goods and social contacts increasingly move online, and the need for vital equipment such as laptops, dongles and online technology has highlighted issues of digital poverty and access among all
Tuesday, November 03, 2020Bank of Ireland Brings Apple Pay to Customers
Bank of Ireland, today brings its customers Apple Pay, a safer, more secure and private way to pay that helps customers avoid handing their payment card to someone else, touching physical buttons or exchanging cash — and uses the power of iPhone to protect every transaction. Customers simply hold their iPhone or Apple Watch near a payment terminal to make a contactless payment. Every Apple Pay purchase is secure because it is authenticated with Face ID, Touch ID, or device passcode, as well
Friday, October 30, 2020Minister Donohoe announces Tourism and Hospitality VAT Rate to move to 9% on Sunday
The Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe T.D., is pleased to announce that, in line with his announcement in Budget 2021, the VAT Rate for the tourism and hospitality sector will drop from 13.5% to 9% from Sunday, 1 November. This rate reduction will apply to catering and restaurant services, tourist accommodation, cinemas, theatres, museums, historic houses, open farms, amusement parks, certain printed matter, and hairdressing. This change will apply from 1 November 2020 to 31 December 2021. Speaking
Wednesday, October 28, 2020Bank of Ireland Group plc - Interim Management Statement – Q3 2020 update
Comment: Francesca McDonagh, Bank of Ireland Group CEO: “As we navigate COVID-19 we continue to support our customers at each stage of the pandemic, playing our part in the reboot of the economy, and staying focused on our strategic objectives. We are delivering good progress on transformation, customer delivery, and operating cost. Examples include the roll-out of our new Mobile App to iOS customers which follows the successful launch to Android users in May. Our cloud-based personal current
Wednesday, October 28, 2020daa Introductory Remarks to Joint Committee on Transport & Communications Networks by daa Chief Executive Dalton Philips
Good afternoon, I would like to thank the members for the opportunity to continue the discussion re the ongoing devastating impact of COVID-19 on the aviation sector. I’ll also address the new EU traffic light system and the issue of testing at airports. Since my last appearance before this Committee on October 7, we have lost a further 1.5 million passengers compared to the same period last year. That’s the population of Dublin, Cork and Limerick cities combined. The European Commission has also
Wednesday, October 28, 2020Council to prioritise promotion of Active Travel following changes to departments
Fingal County Council is to prioritise the promotion of Active Travel as part of its ongoing commitment to Climate Action, with additional changes to Council departments to further strengthen the Council’s housing delivery and economic development capacities. Chief Executive AnnMarie Farrelly today announced the creation of the Environment, Climate Action and Active Travel Department which will have responsibility for mobility planning and the delivery of the National Transport Authority’s cycle
Tuesday, October 27, 2020Bank of Ireland Economic Pulse falls sharply in October
COVID-19 and Brexit weigh on consumer and business confidenceWeakest reading on record for the Consumer PulseFirms downgrade near-term expectations for activity and jobs Tuesday 27th October 2020: The Bank of Ireland Economic Pulse came in at 56.6 in October 2020. The index, which combines the results of the Consumer and Business Pulses, was down 8.6 on last month and 20.5 lower than a year ago. October marked a new low for consumer sentiment while businesses downgraded their near-term expectations for
Sunday, October 25, 2020Tánaiste launches new Brexit Readiness Checker
Fewer than 70 days to 1st January Brexit deadlineprepareforbrexit.com/brexitreadinesschecker The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar TD today (Sunday, the 25th of October) launched the new online Enterprise Ireland Brexit Readiness Checker to help businesses get ready for the UK’s departure at the end of the year. The Brexit Readiness Checker provides businesses with a quick and accessible way to check their readiness and gives guidance on what steps they need to take
Friday, October 23, 2020Balbriggan re-development boost as Council buys derelict properties
The re-development of key areas of Balbriggan has been given a major boost with the acquisition of several buildings in the town by Fingal County Council. The buildings in question are a group of derelict buildings on Bridge Street, known locally as DeBruns and the Home Nightclub also known as O’Sheas at the Harbour The redevelopment of the Main Street and the Harbour area were identified as being key priorities for the development of the town by many of the 4,000+ local people who took part in the
Thursday, October 22, 2020Minister English confirms all retailers can operate remote ordering for collection or delivery of goods
Consumers urged to stay local and shop local Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail, Damien English TD, has encouraged retailers to continue to adapt their businesses in order to meet the new challenges presented by Level 5 restrictions. New Government regulations now allow for retail outlets to operate online or offer other remote systems of ordering goods for the purposes of collection at the outlet. Minister English said: I recognise the huge impact Level 5 restrictions have on retail
Thursday, October 22, 2020Minister Harris and Minister English welcome new report ‘Leading the Way’ by Expert Group on Future Skills Needs
Investing in Management Development for SME Productivity and Growth The Expert Group on Future Skills Needs, which advises the Government on current and future skills needs of the economy and their impact on Ireland’s enterprise and employment growth, has today published a report on SME Management Skills, entitled Leading the Way. The report highlights how essential management skills are to business productivity, resilience and survival. Research has shown firms that invest in management development grow
Wednesday, October 21, 2020Government invites views on Ireland’s medium-term Economic Plan
The Government is today (Wednesday the 21st of October) inviting representatives from employer groups, unions, environment groups and non-governmental bodies to give their views on how Ireland’s economy can recover and prosper post-Covid and the Brexit transition. The National Economic Plan will set the priorities and objectives for Ireland’s medium-term economic recovery. Budget 2021 was unprecedented in scale in the history of the State, reflecting the enormity of the challenges faced by businesses and
Wednesday, October 21, 2020Global Recognition For Dublin Airport’s COVID-19 Safety Measures
Dublin Airport has received a global endorsement for the measures that it has introduced to protect the safety of passengers and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. The airport’s efforts have been formally recognised by Airports Council International (ACI) World and ACI EUROPE and Dublin Airport is now a member of ACI’s Airport Health Accreditation programme. The airport health accreditation programme provides airports with an independent assessment of the new health measures and procedures that have
Monday, October 19, 2020Following Government decision to introduce new restrictions, Chambers Ireland Calls on Government to Use Time Wisely - Sawtooth approach to COVID-19 restrictions not sustainable
Following an online meeting of Chambers Ireland and CEOs from across the network earlier today (19 October 2020), Chamber leaders call on Government to ensure rapid delivery of supports for businesses impacted by this new wave of restrictions. Government must also ensure these restrictions serve their purpose in reducing spread of COVID-19. This time must be used wisely over the coming weeks to ensure the appropriate infrastructure is in place to support local economies to re-open safely and avoid
Friday, October 16, 2020Council announces ambitious €767m three-year Capital Programme
Fingal County Council has approved an ambitious €767m three-year Capital Programme which sets out significant investment on projects across the County, with a strong emphasis on the delivery of housing, active travel measures and greenway infrastructure over its lifetime. The three-year rolling Programme 2021-2023 identifies 233 individual projects across all seven council divisions with an estimated spend of €767.12m, an increase of 24 per cent on the previous plan. The Programme projects a
Tuesday, October 13, 2020Expansionary approach to Budget 2021 - National Economic Plan must build on this
The theme of the Chambers Ireland Budget submission is “Place” and through it we called on Government to support businesses to trade through the pandemic, by supporting liquidity, local economies and the long-term investment needs of the whole economy. Budget 2021 is the largest Budget in the history of the state and makes significant progress in addressing many of the needs of the most exposed members of the business community. Speaking this afternoon, Chambers Ireland CEO Ian Talbot said, “The
Tuesday, October 13, 2020Budget 2021 – Preparing Businesses and Protecting Jobs
Budget 2021 prioritises investment in helping businesses respond to the twin crises of Brexit and Covid-19. The funding provided for comes on top of the measures announced earlier this year in the July Stimulus – a €7bn package, aimed at protecting jobs and creating new opportunities. The Tánaiste said: This is a pro-business and pro-jobs Budget aimed at building on what we put in place in the July Stimulus, to help business owners and employees through this exceptionally difficult time. Our efforts
Tuesday, October 13, 2020Dublin Airport’s Community Fund To Reopen For Applications
Dublin Airport’s Community Fund will reopen for applications on Monday, October 19 and will remain open for a period of six weeks, closing Monday, November 30. The airport’s €10 million Community Fund was launched in 2017 with an annual investment of €400,000 over 25 years. The Community Fund supports local projects that make a positive contribution to neighbouring communities around Dublin Airport from Santry south of the airport to Rolestown in the north and from Tyrrelstown on the west to
Monday, October 12, 2020Call to Dubliners to redouble effort to slow spread of COVID-19
The elected leaders of the four Dublin Local Authorities, the Health Service Executive and An Garda Síochána today issued a joint appeal to citizens to redouble their efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 and work together to get Dublin down to Level 1 in the Government’s National Framework for Living with COVID. An Open Letter to the citizens of Dublin has been signed by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Hazel Chu; The Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown, Cllr Una Power; The Mayor of Fingal, Cllr David
Monday, October 12, 2020Passenger Numbers Down 87% In September
Just over 392,000 passengers travelled through Dublin Airport in September, an 87% decline compared to the same month last year, as COVID-19 continued to have a very significant impact on traffic numbers. Passenger volumes to and from continental Europe fell by 84%, as just over 274,000 people travelled to and from European destinations last month. UK traffic declined by 89% compared to last September, with just over 87,000 passengers travelling to and from Britain during the month. Passenger volumes to
Friday, October 09, 2020Government convenes first meeting of Hospitality and Tourism Forum
The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar TD, and the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD, today (Friday, 9 October 2020) established the Hospitality and Tourism Forum. Few sectors have been as severely impacted by the pandemic as the hospitality and tourism industry. In recognition of the devasting impact the virus has had, the Tánaiste and Minister Martin have today established the Hospitality and Tourism Forum to
Thursday, October 08, 2020Tánaiste writes to all businesses in Ireland about Brexit
The Tánaiste will write to all 225,000 registered businesses in the country to get ready for Brexit The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Leo Varadkar will write to every registered business in Ireland advising them to make sure they are prepared for Brexit. The letter, which will issue to approximately 225,000 businesses registered with the Companies Registration Office over the coming days, will set out what they need to do to get their business ready for Great Britain’s
Wednesday, October 07, 2020daa Airports Running On Empty, Oireachtas Committee Hears
Introductory Remarks to Joint Committee on Transport & Communications Networks by daa Chief Executive Dalton PhilipsThank you for the invitation to discuss the extraordinary challenges which daa and the aviation sector now face as a result of Covid-19. As I speak to you today, I’m thinking of people like Rob Rankin from Vagabond Tours in Wicklow, who has had virtually zero revenue since March, because there have been no international visitors. I’m thinking of Stephen Teeling and his staff in
Monday, October 05, 2020Business community calls for immediate clarification on potential new restrictions - evolved strategy for living with Covid-19 urgently required
This morning (5 October 2020) Chambers Ireland expresses concern at new advice from the National Public Health Emergency Team that the entire country should move to Level 5. Speaking this morning, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot said, “This latest announcement will come as a shock to businesses and local economies throughout the country, who have been doing their best to adjust to the new reality of living alongside the threat of Covid-19. Our members have many questions regarding the new
Friday, October 02, 2020Continuation of Supports Essential to Revival of Economy
Following the publication of the Exchequer Returns for September, Chambers Ireland today (2 October) calls on Government to maintain supports for the badly impacted areas of our economy. Ensuring that we maintain supports will be essential if parts of the economy are to survive the pandemic. Budget 2021 must also minimise longer-term detrimental economic impact through prioritising funding for capital infrastructure and our town centres. Speaking this evening, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive, Ian Talbot
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Thursday, October 01, 2020Parklet Partners: Fingal County Council urges businesses to apply
Fingal County Council is seeking “Parklet Partners” to apply to transform their existing streetscape into a welcoming and attractive community space by providing new parklets outside suitable businesses in Fingal. Applications are open until 5 p.m. October 30 and interested parties should submit completed application forms to econdev@fingal.ie Parklets convert a few on-street parking spaces (excluding accessible, age friendly and loading bay) into public open space to accommodate dining and
Thursday, October 01, 2020Flexibility and forbearance key to weather COVID-19 crisis - Chambers Ireland welcomes new Code of Conduct Between Landlords and Tenants for Commercial Rents
Chambers Ireland, today (1 October), welcomes the publication by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment Affairs of the voluntary “Code of Conduct Between Landlords and Tenants for Commercial Rents”. Speaking this morning, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive, Ian Talbot said, “As our members know from direct experience, and as our Business Community surveys have repeatedly shown, Covid-19 has caused income shocks which have had profound effects across the cities and towns of this
Wednesday, September 30, 2020Fingal County Council release statement about New Street, Malahide
The pedestrianised New Street has been enjoyed by the community of Malahide and visitors to the village throughout the summer and has assisted businesses to keep trading during heightened COVID-19 restrictions. The purpose of introducing pedestrianisation on New Street was to encourage and facilitate social distancing for citizens going about their daily business and to decrease traffic levels in the centre of Malahide by encouraging people to walk or cycle from their homes or use the nearby car parks
Monday, September 28, 2020Bank of Ireland Economic Pulse up in September
Index has now recovered almost 60% of COVID-related lossesEconomic Pulse up in September – Business sentiment rises, Consumer sentiment flatOrder books and hiring improve but Brexit is a concernTelecommunications overtakes housing as key priority for infrastructure investment as remote working continues for many Embargo Monday 28th September: The Bank of Ireland Economic Pulse came in at 65.1 in September and has now recovered almost 60% of its COVID-related losses. The index, which combines the
Friday, September 25, 2020Council completes significant public realm initiative in Swords
Fingal County Council has completed a significant public realm initiative in the heart of Swords aimed at supporting local businesses by transforming the existing streetscape into a welcoming and attractive community space. A joint initiative from the Economic, Enterprise and Tourism Department and the Operations Department has seen a new “parklet” created on Main Street, providing an inviting extension to the footpath through the conversion of a number of car parking spaces into additional space for
Friday, September 25, 2020Chambers Ireland welcomes new President & Deputy President
At their Annual General Meeting, Chambers Ireland has elected Margaret Brennan and Fiona Candon as new President and Deputy President for 2020/21 respectively. Margaret Brennan, nominated by Cork Chamber, is the Head of Business Banking, Permanent TSB, while Fiona Candon, nominated by Sligo Chamber, is owner and director of First Western. The AGM also saw Fingal Chamber Chief Executive, Anthony Cooney returned to the board as he continues in his role as Chairperson of the CEO's Forum for a second
Friday, September 25, 2020Applications now open for Fingal Main Street Shopfronts and Residences improvement grants
Applications are now open for the Shopfront and Main Street Residences Painting and Improvement Grant Scheme where main street property owners can apply for grant funding of up to 50% of eligible costs and a maximum of €1,500 to replace and renovate shop fronts in Fingal town centres. In partnership with the Dublin Fingal Chamber of Commerce, the Balbriggan Chamber of Commerce and Malahide Chamber of Commerce, Fingal County Council have developed the Shopfront and Main Street Residences Painting and
Friday, September 25, 2020Council to begin €4m scheme to support safer cycling and pedestrian movements
Fingal County Council is to commence the roll out of a €3.9m programme aimed at developing safer infrastructure for cyclists and pedestrians in towns and villages across the County. The funding was part of a €55m allocation by the National Transport Authority under the Government’s July Jobs Stimulus Plan to support local authorities’ response to Covid-19 challenges and assist with their work to equip local communities and businesses with improved walking and cycling infrastructure. The first
Thursday, September 24, 2020Living with COVID Will Require Long-Term Government Support - Latest Chambers Ireland COVID-19 Survey Shows 30% Decline in Turnover Even After Economy Has Reopened
Chambers Ireland and our nationwide network of chambers has today (24 September 2020) published results from a survey of the Irish business community. This survey seeks to quantify and highlight the impact of COVID-19 on businesses in towns, cities, and regions across the country. The survey, which is the fifth in a series, captured over 860 responses during the lead up to the imposition of new restrictions on activity in Dublin. This is the first Chambers Ireland survey in the series that focuses on
Tuesday, September 22, 2020Businesses need notice ahead of restrictions and dialogue on supports
Speaking earlier today (22 September 2020) Fingal Chamber Chief Executive, Anthony Cooney, said “Fingal Chamber is concerned about the impact the short notice of Level 3 restrictions in Dublin is having on the businesses and livelihoods of thousands of workers. Recent messaging from Government has caused confusion and the announcement of further restrictions on Dublin six hours ahead of enforcement has been hugely problematic for many businesses. Fingal Chamber is calling for better engagement from the
Tuesday, September 22, 2020100 days to Brexit – Tánaiste urges businesses to get ready for inevitable change
With 100 days until the end of the transition period, the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar TD is urging businesses to be ready for the inevitable changes that Brexit will mean for their operations at the end of this year. From 1 January 2021, the UK will no longer be in the Single Market or Customs Union which means how we trade with them will be starkly different. Even if a Free Trade Agreement is concluded between the EU and UK, there will be significant and
Tuesday, September 22, 2020Chambers Ireland launches new research on digital learning and skills development during COVID-19 restrictions
Chambers Ireland today (22 September 2020) launches new data on engagement with training and life-long learning between the months of March and June. The survey polled businesses and employees to find out whether businesses were upskilling in response to COVID-19, and if so, how and what they were training in. The data found that:1021 Businesses participated in the skills questionnaire867 were employers69% of businesses which have employees conducted training over the Covid-19 lockdown period52% of
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Friday, September 18, 2020Retention of 10% Local Property Tax reduction crucial to maintaining Council services
The Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, AnnMarie Farrelly, says the decision of councillors at this month’s Council meeting to retain a 10 per cent reduction in the Local Property Tax for 2021 is crucial to maintaining Council services next year. The elected members in Fingal voted by 30 votes to seven, with one abstention, to accept a motion to retain the 10 per cent reduction. Councillors have the option each year to make an adjustment in the Local Property Tax of up to 15 per cent. The vote
Friday, September 18, 2020Speech by An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin TD
Dia dhaoibh. This evening, all across Europe, the Covid 19 virus is regaining its foothold and spreading at a rate not seen since March and April. In the past two weeks alone, the majority of countries have seen a doubling of new cases. And on our island, while the pattern varies in different counties, the threat is growing. Here, in our Capital, despite people’s best efforts over recent weeks, we are in a very dangerous place. Without further urgent and decisive action, there is a very real threat
Wednesday, September 16, 2020Ministers Donohoe & McGrath announce Budget 2021 Strategy
• Budget 2021 will focus on providing further support to the economy; • Decisions will prioritise crisis management – addressing the fall-out from the Covid-19 pandemic; • Any further measures will be targeted at the three priorities in the Programme for Government – health, housing and climate change; • We will base the Budget on the assumption of a disorderly Brexit; • There will be no broad based increases in income taxation; • Budget 2021 will target an improvement in the headline fiscal
Wednesday, September 16, 2020Councillors approve €260,000 in grants to community groups and projects in Fingal
Councillors voted to approve substantial funding grants of just over €260,000 to 218 community groups and projects in Fingal at the monthly meeting of Fingal County Council on Monday. The grants will support communities in restarting activities and events that had been delayed due to COVID-19. This funding is set to go to groups and projects as follows:Covid-19 Grants: €74,424 granted to 76 groupsYouth Sports Grants: €115,200
Wednesday, September 16, 2020Applications now open for financial assistance for Festivals and Events taking place in Fingal in 2021
Fingal County Council’s Events Unit is pleased to announce that it is accepting applications for financial assistance for Festivals and Events taking place in 2021. Applications from groups and organisations seeking financial assistance from Fingal County Council's Events Section for Festivals and Events taking place in 2021 will close on Tuesday, 15 December 2020, at 3pm. All applications should include a Covid compliance plan in adherence with current government guidelines. Applications will be
Wednesday, September 16, 2020Council welcomes progress on improvement works project in Malahide
Fingal County Council has welcomed the significant progress on the Village Green Improvement Works project in Malahide, which is expected to be completed before the end of the year. The project led by the Council’s Parks and Green Infrastructure Division is set to re-invigorate and improve the quality of the village green and to enhance the open space as an area to visit and enjoy. The works have been undertaken by Malahide-based company Peter O’Brien & Sons Landscaping Ltd, which was awarded the
Tuesday, September 15, 2020Government sets out Plan for Covid Resilience and National Recovery
Plan for living with Covid-19 shows families, business & society how to respond to emerging Covid situation over next 7 months€600M in funding agreed for health service Winter Initiative The Government has today published Resilience & Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with Covid-19 which will guide Ireland’s response to saving lives and managing the pandemic over the next seven months. It sets out how Ireland and the Irish people can continue managing the disease in a rapidly changing global
Tuesday, September 15, 2020Clarity and certainty are what businesses need
Speaking earlier today (15 September 2020) Chambers Ireland Chief Executive, Ian Talbot, said “Chambers Ireland welcomes today’s announcement by government of a medium-term roadmap – something which our network has been seeking for a considerable period of time. Covid-19 means that businesses are operating under uncertainty and against considerable economic headwinds. This morning’s report “COVID-19 pandemic and SMEs revenues in Ireland”, published by the ERSI, demonstrates the disastrous circumstances
Monday, September 14, 2020Planning approval for North-South Interconnector good news for energy security and climate action, says Chambers Ireland
Chambers Ireland today (14 September 2020) welcomes the decision by Northern Ireland Minister Mallon MLA to approve planning permission for the North South Interconnector and acknowledges the importance of this infrastructure both in terms of improving energy security and enabling the island to move towards a 70% target of renewable electricity, which is critical in meeting our 2030 targets. Speaking this afternoon, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot said, “The economic and health impacts of
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Friday, September 11, 2020Fingal Dublin Chamber Chief Executive Update (September 2020)
Dear member, As we approach 6 months since the initial Government ‘lockdown’, no one could have predicted how challenging 2020 would be for businesses. Recovering from the necessary restrictions caused by a pandemic is an immense challenge and we are all having to adapt. Fingal Chamber, the Chamber Network and Chambers Ireland are all playing a part in this effort and our message to the business community has been clear from the start: We are here to help. We will assist you through this crisis and help
Thursday, September 10, 2020Putting Place First - Government Budget 2021 stimulus must restore the health of our towns and cities
Chambers Ireland today (10 September 2020), launches its submission to Government detailing recommendations to be included in Budget 2021 and the longer term National Economic Plan. Aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, the Chambers Ireland Budget 2021 Submission makes a series of recommendations that will support businesses to trade through the Pandemic through enabling our town centres and local economies to recover. It also emphasises the importance of investment in infrastructure, the low
Wednesday, September 09, 2020Brexit Cannot be Ignored - Latest Government Action Plan a valuable tool to support business to prepare for new trading relationship with UK
Chambers Ireland today (9 September 2020) welcomes the publication of the latest Brexit Readiness Action Plan from Government, which outlines the steps that businesses and individuals need to take now, to be ready for the end of the Transition Period on 31 December 2020. Speaking this afternoon, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot said, “With the deadline to allow ratification of a Trade Deal due at the next EU Council meeting next month, we urgently call on all businesses to thoroughly
Tuesday, September 08, 2020Chambers Ireland welcomes nomination of Mairead McGuinness as European Commissioner designate
Chambers Ireland welcomes the nomination of Mairead McGuinness, by the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, as the EU’s next Commissioner designate for Financial Services, Financial Stability and the Capital Markets Union. Speaking today (8 September 2020), Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot wished the new Commissioner-elect well in this important financial portfolio ahead of Brexit and the challenges that Covid-19 continues to pose for the European Union. “Commissioner-designate
Monday, September 07, 2020Credit Guarantee Scheme is a useful addition in suite of supports, but business still needs more from Government
Chambers Ireland today (7 September 2020) welcomes the launch of the new Credit Guarantee Scheme, and encourages businesses to make full use of the range of state supports available. Speaking this afternoon, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot said, “The new Scheme is an ambitious new initiative, where 80% of borrowings will be backed by the State. Interest rates will also be offered at a much lower rate than other more traditional business loans. While debt won't suit all businesses, for those
Monday, September 07, 2020Bank of Ireland stands ready to support customers through Credit Guarantee Scheme
New online portal developed to make application process as simple as possible · Bank launches €400,000 marketing campaign to communicate scheme to businesses · Applications accepted from Thursday 10 September 7 September 2020: Bank of Ireland has strongly welcomed the launch of the new Covid-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme, designed to support Irish businesses navigate the ongoing pandemic. The Bank has created a new online portal bankofireland.com/cgs to make the application process as
Tuesday, September 01, 2020Chambers Ireland Calls for National Coordinated Strategy on Managing Virus Needed to support Local Economies
Chambers Ireland has today (1 September) sent a letter to An Taoiseach Micheál Martin outlining the concerns of our members regarding the Government response to Covid-19 in advance of the Dáil reconvening. Chamber Ireland Concerns:There is a need for additional supports to help areas where restrictions must be reintroduced, to sustain businesses that are active in those areas, and then to support them upon reopening.It is critical that there is a co-ordinated, coherent and clear programme of policy and
Friday, August 28, 2020Council meets stakeholders to outline future New Street Pedestrianisation Zone in Malahide
Fingal County Council officials have met with stakeholders in Malahide where they outlined a future plan for the New Street Pedestrianisation Zone following the successful implementation of a pilot initiative over the past number of months. In attendance were councillors from the Howth/Malahide electoral area, as well as representatives from Malahide Chamber of Commerce, Malahide Community Forum, Malahide Tidy Towns, Malahide Sea Scouts, Malahide Marina, Shop Malahide and residents from New Street and
Thursday, August 27, 2020Fingal County Council is moving to next phase of delivering free outdoor public WiFi across Fingal towns and villages
Fingal County Council, in partnership with Fingal Dublin Chamber and Magnet Networks, is moving onto the next phase of delivering free outdoor public Wi-Fi to towns and villages across the County over the coming months. A total of 48 hotspots will be installed across 13 locations throughout Fingal and preparatory work will take a major step forward this week. Fingal County Council staff, as well as representatives from Fingal Dublin Chamber and Magnet Networks, will begin visiting local businesses
Thursday, August 27, 2020Fingal LCDC invites groups to apply for a share of funding for community centres and community buildings
The Fingal Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) has issued an invite to groups to apply for funding under the Community Enhancement Programme (CEP) 2020 scheme for community centres and community buildings. This new fund totalling €192,805 seeks to stimulate local economies by providing capital grants towards the maintenance, improvement and upkeep of community centres and community buildings, and adaptations and equipment needed as a result of COVID-19 may also be included. Similar expenditure
Wednesday, August 26, 2020BrightHR grows presence in Ireland
BrightHR, a global HR software and employment law advice service which is part of the Peninsula Group, has increased its presence in Ireland with an exclusive partnership with Chambers Ireland and a national advertising campaign. Over the past month, BrightHR and Chambers Ireland have worked closely together to provide business owners with a service that saves them time on staff HR admin through a range of useful application tools. BrightHR’s smart software logs staff sickness, calculates holiday
Friday, August 21, 2020Chambers Ireland calls on businesses to expect a hard Brexit and act accordingly
With the seventh round of negotiations between Britain and the EU having broken up without an agreement being reached, Chambers Ireland are disappointed that a compromise has yet to be found. Businesses, both in Britain and in the EU, are already suffering significantly as a result of Covid-19. A hard Brexit will act as a hammer blow to many of those that are surviving on the margin at the moment. The most likely outcome of the negotiations at this stage is that Britain’s transition period will end
Thursday, August 20, 2020Chambers Ireland ramps up wellbeing support for members with Health Assured partnership
A new partnership has today (20 August 2020) been announced between Chambers Ireland and health and wellbeing provider, Health Assured, to offer a new Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to their Chamber members. Chambers Ireland’s new partnership with Health Assured will offer business members within our network a reduced sign-up rate to a 24/7, 365 confidential telephone support and counselling service, as well as to a wide range of wellbeing resources via an online wellbeing portal and mobile app,
Wednesday, August 19, 2020Fingal County Council successful in securing funding for two projects from the Public Service Innovation Fund 2020
Fingal County Council has been awarded a total of €35,000 under the Public Service Innovation Fund, which aims to support innovation from public service bodies to promote collaboration and improved approaches to service delivery. Two Digital Fingal projects - the 3D Virtual Reality Model to Enhance Citizen Engagement and the Building Smart Traffic Control Room and IoT Sensor Testbed for Traffic Congestion - were successful in their applications. Some €20,000 has been awarded to develop a 3D Virtual
Wednesday, August 19, 2020New Roadmap must ensure there is dialogue with business - Chambers Ireland calls for Government to ensure better engagement with business community in managing restrictions around work and economy
Chambers Ireland today (19 August 2020) calls for clearer, more regular engagement between Government and the business community with regard to COVID-19 restrictions. This includes the communication of new guidance and development of a new Roadmap. Speaking today, Chief Executive Ian Talbot said, "The new restrictions announced last night, and over the past week, bring home the reality of what living alongside the virus will mean in the months to come. A significant second wave will do untold damage to
Monday, August 10, 2020Applications now open for Restart Grant Plus
Fingal County Council is now accepting applications for the Restart Grant Plus which was launched today by the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar, TD. Like the Restart Grant Scheme, which closed for applications on July 22, the Restart Grant Plus will assist businesses in covering the costs associated with reopening following the Covid-19 lockdown. It is part of the Government’s July Stimulus package and will be available for businesses with up to 250 employees as
Friday, August 07, 2020Dublin Airport Passenger Numbers Down 89% In July
Just over 381,000 passengers travelled through Dublin Airport in July, which was an 89% decline compared to the same month last year, as COVID-19 continued to a profound impact on traffic. Passenger volumes to and from continental Europe fell by 86%, as 265,000 people travelled to and from European destinations last month. UK traffic declined by 91% compared to last July, with almost 87,000 passengers travelling to and from Britain during the month. Passenger volumes to and from North America decreased
Wednesday, August 05, 2020Fingal receives €74,000 from Town and Village Scheme for COVID-19 projects
Fingal County Council has been awarded over €74,000 in funding by the Department of Rural and Community Development under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme for Accelerated Measures in response to COVID-19. The money will support specific projects in Donabate, Portrane, Balrothery and Naul and will support those communities in responding to the specific challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, helping them to shop, socialise and work safely. Welcoming the announcement of the allocations by the
Tuesday, August 04, 2020Phase 4 of the Roadmap for reopening Ireland will be delayed
On 4 August 2020, the Government announced that the move to Phase 4 that was planned for 10 August 2020 will now be delayed for at least 3 weeks until 31 August 2020. Additional measures announced include:Pubs that do not serve food will not be able to reopen on Monday 10 August 2020Restaurants will have to close at 11pmFace coverings will become mandatory in shops and shopping centres from 10 August 2020The current restrictions on indoor and outdoor gatherings will continue with up to 50 people allowed
Friday, July 31, 2020€200,000 awarded to Fingal County Council under Carbon Tax Fund towards Fingal Coastal Way route selection
Fingal County Council has welcomed the allocation of €200,000 towards the Fingal Coastal Way, a 32km high-quality recreational walking and cycling route stretching from Newbridge Demesne in Donabate to the county boundary, north of Balbriggan. Awarded under the Carbon Tax Fund 2020 by the Department of Climate Change, Communications Networks and Transport, the funding will used to progress the route selection for the greenway infrastructure. The allocation was part of a total allocation of €4.5m
Thursday, July 30, 2020Council welcomes publication of Emerging Preferred Route for Luas Finglas which has potential to deliver future growth and development
Fingal County Council has welcomed the publication of the Emerging Preferred Route for Luas Finglas, the proposed extension of the Luas Green Line from Broombridge to Charlestown in Fingal, which has the real potential to deliver on Project Ireland 2040’s vision for future growth and development on the northside of the city and in the wider Fingal area. Project Ireland 2040 identifies the needs for reliable, affordable, sustainable and integrated public transport in Dublin. Luas Finglas will provide a
Thursday, July 30, 2020Government launches €500 million long-term lending for SMEs, Farmers and Fishing
The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar TD, the Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe TD and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Dara Calleary TD today (Thursday the 30th of July) launched a €500 million expansion to the Future Growth Loan Scheme, the government’s scheme to support SMEs, farmers and fishing. The additional funding will be provided by the European Investment Bank Group. Tánaiste Leo Varadkar TD said: “The past few months have been very
Thursday, July 30, 2020Minister Troy welcomes Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) (COVID-19) Bill 2020
Businesses can hold AGM’s, general meetings and creditors’ meetings by electronic meansExaminership increased to 150 daysThreshold at which company is deemed unable to pay its debts increased to €50,000 30th July 2020 Today the Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Covid-19) Bill 2020 was passed by the Dáil. The Bill makes temporary amendments to the Companies Act 2014 and the Industrial and Provident Societies Acts 1893 – 2018 to address issues arising as a result of Covid-19. The Bill will ensure that
Thursday, July 30, 2020Taoiseach-led “Town Centre First” Initiative vital to national economic recovery stimulus package
In a submission to An Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Chambers Ireland today (30 July 2020) calls for the establishment of an inter-departmental National Town Centre Taskforce to revive urban centres, address the issues of vacancies, incentivise brownfield development and ensure that our cities and towns across the country are supported through the post-COVID recovery. The Programme for Government committed to a ‘Town Centre First’ policy approach, founded on the Town Centre Health Check research, to ensure
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Wednesday, July 29, 2020Fingal Dublin Chamber Chief Executive Update (July 2020)
Dear member, July has been an extremely challenging month for many businesses in Fingal. Adapting to the necessary restrictions caused by the pandemic has required serious thought, while capacity and consumer sentiment have been negatively affected in many cases. Fingal Dublin Chamber is here to assist you through this crisis and help prepare you for the recovery. The tagline of the Chambers of Commerce in Ireland is "Advancing Business Together". Now, more than ever is the time for us all to do our
Tuesday, July 28, 2020COVID19 Waiver of Commercial Rates
A 100% waiver of commercial rates applies for a 6-month period from 27 March 2020 to 27 September 2020 to all ratepayers except a small number of categories. The waiver will be applied as a credit in lieu of rates for the 6-month period covered in 2020. These excluded categories are mainly utilities, banks, large supermarkets and corporates. Nationally the full waiver applies to over 100,000 ratepayers. Find out more at https://www.fingal.ie/council/service/commercial-rates
Monday, July 27, 2020Amazon creates new jobs in Fingal and across Ireland
Today, Amazon announced that it is creating another 1,000 permanent jobs in Ireland over the next two years. The new, highly skilled roles will be based in locations across the company’s Cork and Dublin sites in Blanchardstown, Tallaght, the city centre, and north County Dublin, and will bring Amazon’s total permanent workforce in the country to 5,000 people over the next two years. This will help to support Ireland’s economic recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic. The new employment opportunities
Friday, July 24, 2020Fingal County Council Launches the Not So Different Creative Ability Hub in Blanchardstown
The Not So Different Creative Hub, the first of its kind in Ireland, was opened today in Blanchardstown Library. Located on the first floor of the Blanchardstown Library building, the Not So Different Creative Hub provides a wide range of services to bring together both neurotypical and neuro-atypical individuals to collaborate and develop the confidence to showcase their talent and make friends while exploring innovation and creativity. Fingal County Council Community Department has worked alongside
Friday, July 24, 2020Council reaffirms commitment to local businesses following announcement of Government’s July Stimulus package
Fingal County Council has reaffirmed its commitment to support and assist local businesses following the announcement of the Government’s €7.4bn July Stimulus package which sets out a range of measures aimed at stimulating the economy following the Covid-19 pandemic. Fingal County Council has played a central role in supporting the business sector during the Covid-19 period and has already implemented a range of schemes and initiatives to assist small and medium enterprises across Fingal. Key
Thursday, July 23, 2020July Stimulus gives breathing room for business, but long-term strategy for recovery will be needed, says Fingal Dublin Chamber
Fingal Dublin Chamber welcomes this afternoon’s announcement (23 July 2020) on the July Stimulus from Government. The measures include:Expansion of grant aid for business impacted by COVID-19Extension and reform of the Wage Subsidy Scheme beyond August, to March next yearExtension of Commercial Rates WaiverStimulus measures to support sectors vulnerable to pandemic social-distancing, including retail, hospitality and tourismAdditional funding for active travel infrastructure Speaking this afternoon,
Thursday, July 23, 2020Government launches €7.4 billion Jobs Stimulus to help businesses re-open, get people back to work and promote confidence
The Government has today announced the July Jobs Stimulus, a €7.4bn package of measures designed to stimulate a jobs-led recovery and build economic confidence while continuing to manage the impact of Covid-19. Launching the Jobs Stimulus, the Taoiseach, Micheál Martin TD said: "The stimulus package announced today will protect existing jobs while creating new and sustainable employment options in the months and years ahead. These measures will support small and medium businesses, give young people
Wednesday, July 22, 2020Final call for Fingal COVID 19 Emergency Fund revised to include Safe Return to Community Activity c
The COVID19 Emergency fund scheme has recently been revised to allow for Safe Return to Community Activity costs and is open for application until Friday July 31st 2020 at 5pm. In addition to supporting groups involved in the Community Call initiative, Fingal County Council are now considering funding applications from community groups and community services to support Safe Return to Community Activity whilst complying with COVID 19 guidelines. These costs could relate to COVID signage, protective
Thursday, July 16, 2020Planning permission granted for the Church Fields Link Road and Cycle Network Project
Fingal County Council is pleased to announce that the Church Fields Link Road and Cycle Network Project was granted planning permission by the elected members at the full council meeting held in June. This infrastructure is a key element in the ongoing progression of Fingal County Council’s Project Talamh initiative, which is the Council’s targeted response to the housing crisis in the form of significant new housing provision on several Council-owned landbanks across the county. The Church Fields
Wednesday, July 15, 20202020 Community Enhancement Programme in Fingal has been announced
Fingal County Council and the Fingal Local Community Development Committee are pleased to announce details of the 2020 Community Enhancement Programme (CEP). The Community Enhancement Programme provides small grants to enhance facilities in urban and rural communities. The CEP is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development with Fingal allocated €68,375 in grant funding towards enhancing the facilities available to communities. The Programme has a focus on supporting groups in areas of
Wednesday, July 15, 2020Half measures to restart economy will no longer cut it - July Stimulus is last chance to ensure survival of vulnerable businesses
Chambers Ireland today (15 July 2020) publishes its recommendations to Government on the measures that will be necessary to protect jobs, prevent businesses from failing, and support the recovery. Representing 40 Chambers, more than 8,000 businesses and with a geographic reach in all major cities, regions and towns, Chambers Ireland calls for Cabinet to use all resources available to reboot the economy. Speaking today, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot said, “Measures introduced to date to
Tuesday, July 14, 2020Fingal County Council commences Part 8 planning application for Harry Reynolds Road Pedestrian and Cycle Route
Fingal County Council has commenced the Part 8 planning application process for the Harry Reynolds Road Pedestrian and Cycle Route in Balbriggan. The route forms part of the Greater Dublin Area Cycle Network Plan and will be an important element of sustainable infrastructure within the town of Balbriggan. Linking several schools and local amenities and serving a large part of the local population, the National Transport Authority-funded scheme would also provide for a future link to the proposed Fingal
Monday, July 13, 2020Fingal County Council pays tribute to retiring Dublin City University President Brian MacCraith
Fingal County Council has paid tribute to Dublin City University President, Professor Brian MacCraith, who has stepped down from the position after 10 years at the helm. During a remarkable decade of sustained growth and development for the University, driven on all fronts by Professor MacCraith’s inspirational leadership and vision, strong links were formed between DCU and Fingal County Council. DCU and Fingal County Council collaborated on many projects over President MacCraith’s term as
Friday, July 10, 2020Restart Grants in Fingal top €5m mark
Restart Grant payments to Fingal businesses from Fingal County Council have now topped over €5m with 982 businesses approved for grants ranging from €2,000 to €10,000. The Restart Grant is part of the Council’s commitment to supporting the local economy and assisting businesses trying to recover from the difficult COVID-19 period. The Council’s Economic Enterprise and Tourism Department has worked closely with local Chambers of Commerce and national agencies since the COVID-19 crisis commenced in
Thursday, July 09, 2020Chambers Ireland congratulates Minister Donohoe on his election as Eurogroup President
Chambers Ireland has this evening (9 July) congratulated Minister Paschal Donohoe on his election as the President of the Eurogroup. Speaking tonight CEO of Chambers Ireland Ian Talbot said, "It is essential that Ireland continues to have a strong and respected voice in Europe. The election of Minister Donohoe to this important role highlights in particular the positive perception across the EU of Ireland's recovery from our financial crisis and we wish him every success with these new
Wednesday, July 08, 2020June Passenger Numbers Down 97% Due To COVID-19
Just over 94,000 passengers travelled through Dublin Airport in June, which was a 97% decline compared to the same month last year as the impact of COVID-19 continued to decimate the aviation industry. Passenger volumes to and from continental Europe fell by 97%, as just over 47,000 people travelled to and from European destinations last month. UK traffic declined by 96% when compared to last year, with just over 31,500 passengers travelling to and from Britain in June. Passenger volumes to and from
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Friday, July 03, 2020Newly appointed Ministers of State include two former Fingal councillors
Fingal County Council welcomes the news that two former councillors of Fingal County Council were appointed as Ministers of State to the new government as announced yesterday. The appointments were confirmed yesterday when Joe O’Brien, Dublin Fingal TD, and Jack Chambers, Dublin West TD, were given their portfolios. Joe O’Brien was appointed as a Minister of State to the Department of Rural and Community Development with responsibility for Community Development and Charities. Mr. O’Brien served on
Thursday, July 02, 2020Fingal businesses encouraged to sign up to Fingal in it Together Charter
The Fingal In It Together Charter was launched in Howth by Fingal County Council, three of the county’s Chambers of Commerce and Shop Malahide. The Mayor of Fingal, Cllr. David Healy, and the Chair of the Economic Enterprise and Tourism Development Strategic Policy Committee, Cllr Tony Murphy, were joined for the launch by Fingal County Council Chief Executive AnnMarie Farrelly; Fingal County Council Director of Economic Enterprise and Tourism Development, Emer O’Gorman; Bill Kearney, President of
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Wednesday, July 01, 2020Fingal County Council highlights innovative response to Covid-19 during #YourCouncilDay
The innovative work carried out by the staff of Fingal County Council helping young and old during the Covid-19 crisis will be highlighted on #YourCouncilDay, which takes place on Wednesday July 1. Fingal’s response to the crisis included ensuring its youngest and oldest citizens had something creative to keep their minds busy while schools and community centres were closed. In conjunction with Fingal’s Housing Department, Fingal Libraries staff prepared gift packs for children in the Traveller
Wednesday, July 01, 2020Business and Government Must Now Plan for a Hard Brexit in 6 Months Time
In a disappointing, if expected non-development, Britain has casually avoided the opportunity of applying for an extension to the Brexit transition period. Businesses throughout Ireland, crippled by the Covid-19 crisis wreaking havoc on the Irish, European and indeed the global economy, would have welcomed the opportunity to extend the transition period. An extension would have allowed an ambitious trade deal to be negotiated in a more conducive environment than current circumstances allow. However, the
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Sunday, June 28, 2020Three former councillors appointed as ministers in new cabinet
Fingal County Council welcomes the news that three former councillors of Fingal County Council will serve as ministers in the new government as announced by An Taoiseach Micheál Martin last evening. An Taoiseach Martin revealed his new Cabinet after his election as Taoiseach in the Dublin Convention Centre and his appointment by President Michael D. Higgins. The three ministers from Fingal are former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Dublin West TD, Darragh O’Brien, Dublin Fingal TD, and Roderic O’Gorman,
Thursday, June 25, 2020Opportunity for Businesses and Innovators in Fingal to apply for the 2020 Green Enterprise
Fingal County Council supports the call for applications for the 2020 Green Enterprise: Innovation for a Circular Economy by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in partnership with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment and invites businesses and innovators interested in applying for this funding to partner with Fingal County Council on eligible projects. This is an opportunity for businesses and innovators in Fingal to access €600,000 of funding, with a maximum grant of
Tuesday, June 23, 2020Outgoing Mayor honours those who assisted Fingal’s COIVD-19 response
The outgoing Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Eoghan O’Brien, has honoured individuals and groups who assisted Fingal County Council through the COVID-19 Community Call Response Forum by presenting them with Certificates of Appreciation. Cllr O’Brien, whose year-long term as Mayor ended last Friday, said that he wanted to finish his year in office by recognising the service that is being provided to the County and citizens of Fingal during the COVID-19 pandemic. “This year we faced a health emergency which
Tuesday, June 23, 2020New confidential text service will allow public in Swords to report incidents to Gardaí
Fingal County Council, in partnership with Fingal Dublin Chamber and An Garda Síochána, has launched an initiative in Swords that will allow members of the public to confidentially report incidents that might need Garda intervention. See Something, Say Something is a new public service initiative which allows members of the public in Swords to contact Gardai by texting SWORDS and the incident details to 50555. The free text message will be received by the sergeant on duty and it will be acted upon
Tuesday, June 23, 2020daa Welcomes Publication of Interim Aviation Task Force Report
daa, the company which operates Dublin and Cork airports, welcomes today’s publication of the interim report from the Taskforce for Aviation Recovery, which was established by the Minister for Transport Tourism and Sport. The report calls for “clarity” in relation to what will be required to ease the restrictions that are currently in place in relation to non-essential travel to and from Ireland. Ideally, these restrictions should be eased by July 1, the report adds. “Tourism, trade and foreign
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Monday, June 22, 2020Council invites applications from business wishing to use public realm
As part of the #RestartFingal initiative to help businesses across the county get back up and running, Fingal County Council is inviting applications from those businesses interested in expanding into the public realm by placing street furniture outside their premises. Successful applicants will be able to place tables and chairs on the street or public realm to cater for more customers while continuing to adhere to the Public Health Guidelines in relation to COVID-19 and, in particular, social
Saturday, June 20, 2020Councillors approve two variations to Fingal Development Plan
Councillors at yesterday’s meeting of Fingal County Council approved two variations to the Fingal Development Plan 2017-2023. They passed, by 32 votes to seven, Variation No.2 which aligns the Fingal Development Plan 2017 – 2023 with the National Planning Framework (NFP) and the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES). The making of Variation No. 2 results in amendments to the Core Strategy and associated tables in the written statement and amendments to text and objectives/policies throughout the
Friday, June 19, 2020Fingal County Council elects new Mayor and Deputy Mayor
Councillor David Healy elected as Mayor of FingalCouncillor Robert O’Donoghue elected as Deputy Mayor Councillor David Healy of the Green Party was elected as Mayor of Fingal at the annual meeting of Fingal County Council which was held today at the National Show Centre in Cloghran. Cllr Robert O’Donoghue of the Labour Party was elected as Deputy Mayor. Cllr Healy defeated Cllr Joan Hopkins (Social Democrats) and Cllr Punam Rane (Fine Gael) in the election for Mayor while Cllr O’Donoghue
Friday, June 19, 2020Fingal County Council launches the Fingal Digital Strategy 2020 – 2023
Fingal County Council has launched the Fingal Digital Strategy 2020 – 2023 at County Hall, Swords today (Friday 19 June). The Strategy that aims to encourage and support citizens, businesses and visitors to reap the full rewards of a digitally enabled society through a series of objectives and actions over three years. It showcases the many benefits digital can make to our health, happiness and wellbeing, from supporting the economy and enabling remote working, to enhancing access to education, learning
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Thursday, June 18, 2020Statement from Mayor of Fingal on Death of Detective Garda Colm Horkan
The Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Eoghan O’Brien, has issued the following statement on the death of Detective Garda Colm Horkan. “On behalf of Fingal County Council, and the people of Fingal, I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to the family, friends and colleagues of Detective Garda Colm Horkan who was killed in the line of duty in Castlerea, Co Roscommon, late last night. “Detective Garda Horkan’s previous posting had been in Fingal where he served the community of Dublin 15 and our thoughts are
Monday, June 15, 2020Fingal County Council adds a further 18 Electric Vehicles to its Fleet
Fingal County Council is delighted to announce the addition of a number of electrical vehicles to its fleet. The vehicles representing an investment of €340,000 were launched by Mayor of Fingal Cllr Eoghan O'Brien at Ardgillan Castle today. The additional fleet consists of 14 Fully Electric Nissan eNV vans , 2 Fully Electric LDV 3.5 ton tipper trucks, 1 Fully Electric Meangreen Zeroturn mower and 1 Fully Electric Goupil G4 Utility Vehicle and is further evidence of the commitment of the Council to the
Monday, June 15, 2020Chambers Ireland welcomes progress on Government Formation
Chambers Ireland today (15 June) welcomed progress in the formation of a new Government and the publication of a Programme for Government. Speaking this afternoon, Chief Executive Ian Talbot said; "The measures included in the new Programme will need to be assessed in greater detail but the focus on town centres, balanced regional development and infrastructure, particularly public transport and housing, is welcome. These issues were the main priorities of our member chambers in the run up to the
Monday, June 15, 2020Fingal Dublin Chamber offer condolences following death of former councillor and Mayor Mags Murray
Fingal Dublin Chamber has paid tribute to former Fingal County Councillor and Mayor Mags Murray who sadly passed away on Saturday, the 13th of June 2020. Mags served as a Fingal County Councillor in the Castleknock Local Electoral Area from 2004 until last year’s Local Elections. She was elected Mayor in 2014 and one of her major initiatives was to hold a Mayor’s conference entitled “Immigration to Integration” during her 12-month term. She was also a former chairperson of the Local Authority Members’
Friday, June 12, 2020Council’s commitment to local business and economy continues with funding totalling €1.4m approved under the ReStart Grant Scheme
Fingal County Council’s commitment to supporting the local economy and assisting businesses during the difficult COVID-19 period has continued this week with the approval of the first round of funding totalling €1.4m under the ReStart Grant Scheme. The Council has been to the forefront of supporting the business community during the pandemic and has implemented a range of supports and initiatives to assist small and medium enterprises. The Economic Enterprise and Tourism Department has also worked
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Friday, June 12, 2020New Street Malahide set to be transformed into a pedestrian zone
MALAHIDE is set to become the first area in Fingal to see a new pedestrian zone introduced in the centre of the village which will bring an open air, European-style feel to the heart of the village. New Street, which is home to lots of shops, boutiques, restaurants, cafés and bars, is set to be transformed into a pedestrian-friendly area during the 10-week pilot initiative. Walk Bike Fingal is an initiative being rolled out across the county and which seeks to encourage and facilitate social
Friday, June 12, 2020New €2.5m Baldoyle to Portmarnock walking and cycling Greenway officially opened
Mayor of Fingal Cllr Eoghan O’Brien has officially opened the new €2.5m Baldoyle to Portmarnock walking and cycling greenway project, a vital first phase of the overall Sutton to Malahide Greenway Scheme. Mayor O’Brien was joined by Chief Executive AnnMarie Farrelly and Director of Planning and Strategic Infrastructure Matthew McAleese, senior council officials, local councillors from the Howth-Malahide Area committee, as well as representatives from the National Transport Authority and consultant
Thursday, June 11, 2020daa Implements Enhanced COVID-19 Measures At Dublin And Cork Airports
Passengers strongly recommended to wear facemasks inside airport buildingsOnly those travelling should enter the terminalsEnhanced deep cleaning measures throughout the airport960 hand sanitisers, 720 protective plexiglass screens, 10,500 pieces of COVID-19 related signage daa, the company that operates Dublin and Cork airports, has implemented a series of public health measures to protect and enhance the health and safety of passengers and staff as a result of COVID-19. The measures reflect Ireland’s
Wednesday, June 10, 2020With our economy re-opening, the hard work is only beginning.
Chambers Ireland and our nationwide network of Chambers has today (10 June 2020) published results from a survey of the Irish business community. This survey sought to quantify and highlight the impact of COVID-19 on businesses in our towns, cities and regions across the country. The fourth in a series, the survey has 1,320 responses and was conducted between the 28th May and 2nd June 2020. Our latest survey took a read of the business environment in Phase 1 of our economy’s re-opening following the
Monday, June 08, 2020Mayor of Fingal officially opens Donabate Distributor Road
The Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Eoghan O’Brien, has officially opened the Donabate Distributor Road which was the first project under Rebuilding Ireland’s Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) to reach construction stage. The Road has been opened to traffic since March 6 but, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the planned official opening could not take place. Instead, the unveiling of a commemorative stone, located at the junction of the new road and Hearse Road, was held. Mayor O’Brien
Monday, June 08, 2020Irish Water issues National Water Conservation Order in a bid to safeguard supply for essential purposes
Irish Water has confirmed that a National Water Conservation Order commonly referred to as a hosepipe ban will be in place from Tuesday 9 June until Tuesday 21 July. Four weeks ago, Irish Water urged the public to choose handwashing over power washing as domestic water usage increased as people stayed at home in response to the Covid-19 crisis. Now, the increased domestic demand and increase in commercial demand as businesses are reopening is being exacerbated by warm weather and the widespread emergence
Monday, June 08, 2020Bank of Ireland announces update to COVID-19 services and supports
Majority of closed branches will reopen on 29 June, with ATMs at these locations also accepting cash and cheque lodgements from this dateDedicated supports for healthcare workers, carers, self-isolating customers, mortgage holders and businesses remain a priorityBank supports the roll out of additional supports planned for Irish businesses and stands ready to process applications for customers without delay as soon as these are in place Monday, June 8, 10am – In the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic,
Monday, June 08, 2020Online trading a lifeline for business - additional funding welcomed by Fingal Dublin Chamber
Fingal Dublin Chamber today (8 June 2020) welcomes news from the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment and the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, that the Trading Online Voucher Scheme has received additional funding. Speaking this afternoon, Fingal Dublin Chamber Chief Executive Anthony Cooney said, “Today’s announcement from Minister Humphreys and Minister Bruton that an additional €14.2 million will be made available for the Trading Online Scheme will be widely
Monday, June 08, 2020Fingal Dublin Chamber calls on Government to support Dublin Airport capital projects
Responding to the news that the daa is currently losing €1m per day due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Fingal Dublin Chamber is calling on the Government to support crucial capital investments. Fingal Dublin Chamber Chief Executive, Anthony Cooney, said: “Dublin Airport has experienced extraordinary growth in recent years and they were enjoying a positive start to the year before the sharp fall in recent months. While normal operations may be temporarily halted as our society and economy
Saturday, June 06, 2020Upgrade of Rathbeale Road, Swords, officially opened by Mayor of Fingal
he upgrade of the Rathbeale Road in Swords has been officially opened by the Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Eoghan O’Brien. The road, which is part of the R125 Swords to Ashbourne route, has been reopened to traffic since March 20 but, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the planned official opening could not take place. Instead, a simple ceremony to unveil a commemorative stone, was held. Mayor O’Brien said: “As Mayor of Fingal I am delighted to officially open the new Rathbeale Road in Swords. This is our
Friday, June 05, 2020In briefing with Minister for Finance, Fingal Dublin Chamber Ireland calls for certainty on COVID-19 financial supports and commitment on MetroLink as part of the National Development Plan
Ahead of this morning’s (5 June 2020) Cabinet meeting, Fingal Dublin Chamber CEO welcomed Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe, in a digital briefing. The Minister briefed the Chamber on the economic decisions taken so far to protect incomes and to protect employers, both of whom are operating in extraordinarily difficult circumstances. The Minister also emphasised the need to target future economic interventions in a way that best supports the economy. Speaking this morning, Fingal Dublin Chamber
Friday, June 05, 2020COVID-19 Costs daa €160m in Lost Turnover
daa currently losing €1m per dayMajor cost reduction programme underway31m kg of vital cargo handled by Dublin Airport during the crisis including 216 flights bringing PPE/medical supplies to Ireland The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has cost daa an estimated €160 million in lost turnover so far and will see the company record significant financial losses this year. daa has operations in 16 countries and the global pandemic has affected all of its businesses. Traffic at Dublin and Cork airports has
Friday, June 05, 2020Progress in Reopening Economy Welcome - Retention of Financial Support in this phase critical, says Chambers Ireland
Chambers Ireland welcomes this afternoon’s announcement (5 June 2020) that the “Roadmap to Re-Opening the Economy” will be escalated and compressed to four stages, rather five, and that we can now progress to Phase Two. This signals that we are through the worst of the COVID-19 outbreak, and returning, with caution, to normality. Speaking this afternoon, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot said, “Getting the balance right between supporting the economy and livelihoods, while also protecting
Sunday, May 31, 2020Cross-Sector Open Letter Calls for National Taskforce to revive our town centres in a new post-pandemic world
Chambers Ireland, today (31 May 2020), calls on the next Government to make a commitment that the Department of the Taoiseach will lead a sufficiently resourced, cross-departmental National Taskforce to revive our town centres in a new post-pandemic world. The overarching objective of this Taskforce must be to enhance liveability, increase housing supply and support sustainable, active transport. In an open letter, Chambers Ireland is joined by its members and several other bodies, associations, and
Friday, May 29, 2020Reforms to TWSS welcome, but certainty on duration of the scheme needed urgently
ollowing today’s (29 May 2020) Cabinet meeting, Chambers Ireland welcomes news that the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) will be reformed so that those returning to work from maternity and adoptive leave will be eligible for inclusion. Speaking this evening, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot said, “In submissions to Government, and in a statement earlier today, we called for immediate action to ensure that workers returning from maternity leave, and other forms of caring leave, would be
Friday, May 29, 2020Chambers Ireland calls for Cabinet to give clarity and certainty to business
Ahead of today’s (29 May 2020) Cabinet meeting, Chambers Ireland calls for Government to reform and extend the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) beyond its initial June deadline and ensure the right supports are in place to support business liquidity and jobs. Speaking this morning, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot said, “There have been indications that the Wage Subsidy Scheme will be retained beyond the initial 12-week period. However, as we approach the end of May, and as more and more
Wednesday, May 27, 2020Data Crucial to Obtaining Supports for Business - Chambers Ireland Launches Latest COVID-19 Business Impact Survey
Chambers Ireland is today (27 May) launching our latest Covid-19 business impact survey. The target of this survey are the business owners and operators around the country, both those whose businesses have been affected by the Covid-19 crisis, and those whose businesses have not. With Phase 1 of the reopening of our economy underway, we are seeking to understand the struggles that businesses are experiencing, including those that are reopening, those that have remained closed, and those that have
Friday, May 22, 2020Plans are underway to deliver the Broadmeadow Greenway after planning permission granted
Fingal County Council will immediately commence preparations for the construction of the Broadmeadow Greenway after receiving official notification today that An Bord Pleanála has granted planning permission for the €12m project which will link Malahide and Donabate across the Broadmeadow Estuary. The 6km off-road walking and cycling greenway route will be built jointly by Fingal County Council and the National Transport Authority (NTA) and a spectacular 280 metres long bridge crossing the Broadmeadow
Friday, May 22, 2020Half measures not enough - Chambers Ireland calls for significant expansion of supports to support business through COVID-19 catastrophe
Following today’s (22 May 2020) launch of the Restart Fund, Chambers Ireland calls on Government to urgently commit to increased funding and a more expansive approach, so that businesses of all sectors affected can receive support. Speaking today, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot emphasised the need for Government to engage more deeply with the reality of the economic challenges facing the business community and local economies across the country. “The scale and scope of supports for
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Friday, May 22, 2020Applications open for Restart Grant to help Fingal’s micro and small businesses
Applications for the Restart Grant which will give direct grant aid to micro and small businesses to help them with the costs associated with either staying open or reopening and reemploying workers following COVID-19 closures are being accepted from today, Friday, May 22. Businesses in Fingal, which fulfill the criteria, must apply for the Restart Grant though Fingal County Council. Applications are to be submitted on-line at https://submit.link/E5RPF and details of the scheme are also available on
Friday, May 22, 2020Fingal Dublin Chamber welcomes the opening of applications for the Restart Grant
Fingal Dublin Chamber welcomes the news that small businesses will be supported in their recovery following the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Applications for the Restart Grant which will give direct grant aid to micro and small businesses to help them with the costs associated with either staying open or reopening and re-employing workers following COVID-19 closures are being accepted from today, Friday, May 22. Businesses in Fingal, which fulfil the criteria, must apply for the Restart Grant
Wednesday, May 20, 2020Chambers Ireland welcomes wellspring of supports from An Post
Following today’s (20 May 2020) announcement from An Post of its commitment of €2 million worth of practical supports for Ireland’s SMEs to get back to business, Chambers Ireland welcomes this new package of supports, which includes a dedicated eCommerce advice hub for SMEs, and complements the range of business supports already available from Government and the supports of local Chambers nationwide. Speaking this afternoon, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot said, “An Post’s commitment
Wednesday, May 20, 2020Have your say: Fingal Voices App is live and ready to download
Fingal County Council’s Fingal Voices public consultation app is now publicly available. After some months of beta testing, the new mobile application called Fingal Voices is now publicly available on app stores. The app enables Fingal County Council residents to participate in decision-making, make their voices heard and engage with their local government in an innovative and fun manner. Residents can access public consultations directly via the smartphone app and will accrue points through their
Friday, May 15, 2020Chambers Ireland Welcomes Easing of Restrictions
Chambers Ireland welcomes the Government’s announcement today (15 May) that the first phase of lifting of Covid-19 restrictions will begin next Monday. Speaking earlier, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive, Ian Talbot said, “It is with great relief that we can welcome the start of our society’s reopening, in the wake of this unprecedented economic lockdown. As we take our first steps along the road to recovery we should be immensely grateful for the efforts of all those who have worked so hard
Wednesday, May 13, 2020Free Management Qualification for Business Managers - Nationally Accredited by QQI
Griffith College in association with Chambers Ireland and with the support of Skillnet Ireland, is offering a free nationally-certified management qualification for business managers to support them as they re-launch and reboot their business. This online programme is supported by a series of webinars that provide guidance on current business challenges and enables managers to create their business development plans. All programme resources are available online. Participants on the programme can benefit
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Wednesday, May 13, 2020Virtual meeting allows councillors to address priority areas
Finance, restarting the Fingal economy and housing supply among topics in online discussions. A virtual governance and oversight meeting of Fingal councillors was held on Monday with discussions on the priority areas of finance, the impact of COVID-19 on business, housing supply and restarting the Fingal economy. A return to physical meetings in June, which would be planned in accordance with the Return to Work Safely Protocol and other health and safety guidelines, was also considered by
Friday, May 08, 2020Collaboration with industry critical if scale of unemployment is to be mitigated
Following today’s (8 May 2020) publication of CSO data on Live Register and Unemployment Figures, Chambers Ireland calls for significant state interventions to ensure that the hundreds of thousands of people now in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment and other supports do not fall into long-term unemployment. Speaking today, Chambers Ireland President Siobhan Kinsella called for short, sharp, agile interventions to ensure that those who are now in receipt of state supports can re-train, be
Friday, May 01, 2020Investment of €1.72 million approved for New Projects in Rural Dublin
There is great news for rural areas in Fingal, South Dublin and Dun Laoghaire Rathdown with the approval of €1.72 million in funding for nine new projects. The Dublin Rural LEADER Local Action Group (LAG) which oversees the LEADER programme in Rural Dublin approved the investment in projects at an online meeting on Thursday 30th April. The approved projects are in areas of Enterprise and Job Creation, Social Inclusion and Rural Environment. The Mayor of Fingal, Cllr. Eoghan O’Brien, said about the
Thursday, April 30, 2020Latest Chambers Ireland Survey Highlights Costs to Business in Reopening and Calls for More Support
Chambers Ireland and our nationwide network of chambers has today (30 April 2020) published results from a survey of the Irish business community. This survey seeks to quantify and highlight the impact of COVID-19 on businesses in towns, cities and regions across the country. The third in a series, the survey has over 1300 responses and was conducted between the 24 and 28 April 2020. The previous Chambers Ireland survey results, published on the 9 April, found that 84% of businesses expect revenue to
Tuesday, April 28, 2020Plenty on offer in Fingal’s “In This Together” campaign
A wide and varied range of activities and resources for all ages is available across Fingal as part of the new “In This Together” campaign. This is the second phase of the Government’s Community Call, but Fingal County Council staff have already been creating, supporting and promoting activities for residents to do or get involved in while still following Covid-19 restrictions. The ‘In This Together’ campaign aims to provide everyone in Ireland with ways and activities to Stay Connected, Stay Active, and
Friday, April 24, 2020Chambers Ireland launches latest Business Community Survey on Rebooting the Economy
Today (24 April 2020) Chambers Ireland launches its latest Covid-19 Business Community Survey. The third in a series, the survey seeks quantify the economic impact COVID-19 is having on businesses around the country and looks at the supports that will be needed to reboot the economy. This survey is targeted at businesses who are members of their local chambers of commerce and those that are not. With it, we seek to chart out the effects of the Covid-19 restrictions on the Irish Business community, and
Friday, April 24, 2020Cashflow, Crisis Management and Flexible Working Practices are Key Challenges for Irish Businesses
Free online Business Planning Course from Chambers Ireland and Griffith College to Address Key Issues for Irish Businesses Chambers Ireland, in association with Griffith College, have today (24 April 2020) announced a free online business planning course for its 8,000 members nationwide. Commencing on Thursday 30 April 2020, the course will address the key concerns that businesses are facing, including cashflow, crisis management and managing flexible working practices, and will assist them in developing
Monday, April 20, 2020The Commission for the Regulation of Utilities must enable more equitable charges to business users
Chambers Ireland has made a submission to the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU) asking them to be more flexible in how business consumers are billed as part of Irish Water’s Non-Domestic Tariff Framework. The CRU has made recommendations that Irish Water should be extremely strict and inflexible with their business customers in two key areas. Firstly, about assigning and switching tariff classes, and secondly about leaks. The CRU proposals would see businesses charged on the basis of the
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Tuesday, April 14, 2020Invitation to Fingal Business Community to rally to support the local community
Fingal County Council is playing its part to fight COVID-19 and is calling on businesses in Fingal to rally in support of the local community. As part of its efforts to respond to the current pandemic Fingal County Council has donated 30,000 pieces of PPE to Beaumont Hospital to support the efforts of healthcare workers at the frontline and help doctors, nurses and care staff tend to patients. The Council has also donated raw materials and equipment to support PPE production to create PPE face shields for
Friday, April 10, 2020Local Enterprise Office Fingal Welcomes Expansion of Business Supports
Expansion of Trading Online Voucher (TOV) Scheme and reduction in Microfinance Ireland (MFI) interest rate announced Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphreys TD, has announced a major expansion of supports for businesses impacted by COVID-19, including an expansion of the TOV Scheme and a reduction in the interest rate for MFI loans. Minister Humphreys announced the expansion of the €2,500 TOV Scheme through Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs), for businesses employing up to 10
Friday, April 10, 2020Chambers Ireland Calls on Government to Join Chambers in Showing Leadership on Prompt Payment
Following the publication of the second Chamber Network survey Chambers Ireland and our nationwide Network of Chambers has today (10 April 2020) called on Government to join Chambers in calling for engagement with the prompt payment legislation and to send a message to business, both public and private, that if you can pay, you should do so on time. The survey, which has over 1,100 responses (1,149) was conducted between 3 April and the morning of 6 April 2020. Speaking today, Chambers Ireland
Friday, April 10, 2020Business community asked to donate PPE for Community Call volunteers
Economic Enterprise and Tourism Development Department of Fingal County Council and Fingal Dublin Chamber of Commerce launch joint initiative Businesses across Fingal are asked to answer the Community Call against Covid-19 by donating Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for use by Community Call volunteers. The Fingal Community Call Forum, in a joint initiative with Fingal Dublin Chamber of Commerce and Fingal County Council’s Economic Enterprise and Tourism Development Department, are seeking
Thursday, April 09, 2020Chambers Ireland survey results highlight severity of economic impact and calls for unprecedented economic stimulus for post-pandemic recovery
Chambers Ireland and our nationwide network of chambers has today (9 April 2020) published the results of a survey of its members, which seeks to quantify and highlight the impacts of COVID-19 on businesses in towns, cities and regions right across the country. Our survey which has over 1,100 responses (1,149) was conducted between 3 April and the morning of 6 April 2020. The results published this morning are the second in a series of nationwide surveys on the impact of COVID-19 on the business
Wednesday, April 08, 2020Minister Humphreys announces major expansion of business supports for SMEs
€1 billion in liquidity measures available for SMEs€180m Sustaining Enterprise Fund launched Expansion of two SBCI Loan Schemes by €450m to provide an extra €250m for working capital and €200m for longer-term loans, bringing the total allocation to support liquidity in companies affected by the COVID-19 crisis to €650m €180m Sustaining Enterprise Fund for firms in the manufacturing and international services sectors Extension of supports for online trading to €7.6m Expansion of Microfinance Ireland
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Tuesday, April 07, 2020Fingal County Council plays its part to fight COVID-19 with three initiatives to supply Personal Protective Equipment
Fingal County Council has supported the efforts of healthcare workers at the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic with a donation of vital Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and two initiatives to support PPE production. The issue of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is one that has arisen in recent weeks as doctors, nurses and care staff tend to patients in our hospitals and other care facilities. In response to the urgent requirement for PPE, Fingal County Council recently donated over 30,000 pieces
Friday, April 03, 2020Chambers Ireland launches latest Covid-19 Business Community Survey
This morning, Chambers Ireland launches our second Covid-19 Business Community Survey. This survey is targeted at business owners and operators, both those who are members of their local chambers of commerce and those that are not. With it we seek to chart out the effects of the Covid-19 restrictions on the Irish Business community, and through creating an evidence base assist policy makers and business owners guide our economy through the Covid-19 challenges. Our last survey, which
Friday, April 03, 2020“The Community Call” Fingal’s countywide volunteering effort in response to the COVID-19 emergency
Fingal’s COVID-19 Community Response Forum has requested that people who need help, know someone who needs help or would like to offer help should get in touch by contacting the Community Line, telephone 01-890-5000, freephone 1-890-459-059 or by email covidsupport@fingal.ie. The Forum had another meeting on Friday morning to continue the coordination of Fingal’s response to the COVID-19 crisis. The Forum has been in operation since Monday of this week and is now leading the county’s response to the
Thursday, April 02, 2020CSO Figures confirm rapid, meaningful responses from Government will continue to be required over next few weeks
Following the publication of today’s (2 April 2020) live register figures by the CSO, Chambers Ireland calls on Government to ensure that post-crisis, the supports are there to ensure business can re-open. Speaking today, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot said, “Today’s CSO figures illustrate just how much damage has been done to businesses and to livelihoods right across the country. A surge of 24,400 new applicants for jobseekers’ allowances in the space of one month is remarkable
Thursday, April 02, 2020Momentum in Government’s response to COVID-19 crisis must be increased, says Chambers Ireland
Responding to the publication of the March Exchequer Returns, Chambers Ireland calls on Government to look to the future and plan how it will meet the challenge of restoring the country’s finance and rebuilding the economy. Speaking today (2 April 2020), Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot said, “The impact of the measures we have had to take as a country in the last 3 weeks are mostly not reflected in these Returns and we can expect larger percentage falls in May and June. The figures
Thursday, April 02, 2020Community Response Helpline hours extended
The operating hours of the Fingal Community Response Helpline have been extended and the service will now operate from 8am to 8pm seven days a week during the COVID-19 emergency. The COVID-19 Fingal Community Response Forum established the dedicated helpline to assist at risk members of the public in accessing non-emergency and non-medical supports and advice during the current public health emergency. The Forum includes over a dozen agencies and organisations and is ensuring that within Fingal there
Saturday, March 28, 2020Fingal County Council is joining together local organisations to assist citizens during COVID-19
At the instigation of Minister for Housing Planning and Local Government, Eoghan Murphy, TD, a Fingal Covid-19 Community Response Forum is being put in place and will be co-ordinated by Fingal County Council. A dedicated community support helpline and email address will be established in Fingal to assist at-risk members of the public in accessing non-emergency and non-medical supports and advice during the current public health emergency. The confidential phoneline service is being established by the
Saturday, March 28, 2020List of essential service providers under new public health guidelines
Published: 28 March 2020 From: Department of the Taoiseach 1. Agriculture and Fishing2. Manufacturing3. Repair and installation of Machinery and Equipment4. Electricity, Gas and Water5. Construction6. Wholesale and Retail Trade7. Transport Storage and Communication8. Accommodation and Food Services9. Information and Communications10. Financial and legal activities11. Professional, Scientific and Technical activities12. Rental and Leasing Activities13. Administrative and Support Services14. Public
Saturday, March 28, 2020Public Health Measures in place until April 12 to prevent spreading COVID-19
Published: 28 March 2020 From: Department of Health and Department of the Taoiseach 1. Stay at home2. The only reasons you can leave your home3. Essential services, shops, banks and post offices4. Health Services5. Transport and Travel Until the 12 April, everyone is urged to stay in their home wherever possible. Staying at home is the best way to minimise the risk of COVID-19 to your friends, families and communities.Stay at home There are exceptions for some workers in key businesses but for the
Friday, March 27, 2020Speech of An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar TD, Government Buildings, 27 March 2020
Good Evening, Tonight, I want to speak to you about the next stage in our national response to the Coronavirus Emergency. Before I do so, I want to express my condolences to the families and friends of those who passed away today – one of whom was a health care worker. I want to thank all of you for continuing to abide by public health advice. By doing so, you are saving lives and protecting our health service and its staff. Once again, thank you to everyone who is working as part of
Friday, March 27, 2020Minister Humphreys again urges employers to avail of the Wage Subsidy Scheme
Published: 27 March 2020 From: Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation Employers with cash in reserve, who have been hit by a significant decline in business, will still qualify for the scheme. Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphreys TD, has again strongly encouraged employers to avail of the Wage Subsidy Scheme, an innovative scheme to support companies to retain employees and to re-employ employees who have recently been laid off due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The
Friday, March 27, 2020Local pedestrian access only at Fingal parks
Parks in Fingal will only be open to local pedestrians tomorrow (Saturday) following the announcement by the Government of new measures to minimise the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The decision has been made in order to facilitate citizens living within 2km of parks to take brief individual physical exercise within their locality, which may include children from their household provided all adhere to strict 2m social distancing measures. All car parks attached to parks, beaches and open spaces
Friday, March 27, 2020Updated list of Essential Retail Outlets
From: Department of Health and Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation1. Essential retail outlets2. Businesses that can only offer emergency call-out or delivery services3. Physical distancing measures that must be adhered to The National Public Health Emergency Team has recommended that all non-essential retail outlets will close to members of the public and all other retail outlets are to implement physical distancing. You can see the full list of essential workers here. To assist the public
Thursday, March 26, 2020Recruitment Supports during COVID-19
Published: 26 March 2020 From: Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection The Employer Relations National Team continues to help employers in recruiting campaigns during the COVID-19 pandemic by direct matching of customers to their staffing requirements in order to assist their recruitment needs and help employers fill vacancies. The sectors being focused on for support are those providing critical services during this crisis. We will
Thursday, March 26, 2020New Business Continuity Voucher goes live through Local Enterprise Offices
Published: 26 March 2020 From: Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation The new Business Continuity Voucher is now available through Local Enterprise Offices and is open to sole traders and companies across every business sector that employ up to 50 people, the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphreys TD, today (26 March) announced. The voucher is worth up to €2,500 in third party consultancy costs and can be used by companies and sole traders to develop short-term
Wednesday, March 25, 2020Minister Humphreys urges employers to avail of Wage Subsidy Scheme to retain workers
Published: 25 March 2020 From: Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphreys TD, has strongly encouraged employers to avail of the government’s new and generous Wage Subsidy Scheme to retain employees and to re-employ employees in cases where they have recently been laid off due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Minster said:"This pandemic is presenting our people and businesses with unprecedented challenges and they require practical,
Tuesday, March 24, 2020Government announces new COVID-19 Income Support Scheme
Published: 24 March 2020 From: Department of Public Expenditure and Reform 1. Income Support Scheme2. Eligibility for the Income Support Scheme3. Self-employed workers4. How to apply5. Eligibility for COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment6. Duration of the Income Support Scheme7. Cost of the schemes8. Exchequer affordability9. Measures in place for renters10. Measures in place for mortgage holders11. Measures in place for people struggling with utility bills12. Supports for business The government has
Tuesday, March 24, 2020Chamber survey says 90% of businesses experiencing decline in revenue
Chambers Ireland and our nationwide network of chambers has today (24 March 2020) published the results of a survey of its members, which seeks to quantify and highlight the impacts of COVID-19 on business in towns, cities and regions right across the country. Our survey which has over 1,000 responses (1,110) was conducted between the afternoon of the 19 March and the morning of 23 March 2020 Today’s results will inform the advocacy of Chambers Ireland and affiliated chambers, on behalf of businesses
Tuesday, March 24, 2020General infomation on the Temporary COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme
Published: 24 March 2020 From: Office of the Revenue Commissioners 1. Key Features of the scheme2. Who the scheme applies to3. Registering for the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme4. Operating the scheme from Thursday 26 March 20205. Guidance/Information The government announced new measures to provide financial support to Irish workers affected by the COVID-19 crisis. As part of these measures, Revenue will operate a Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme. The scheme, enables employees, whose employers are
Friday, March 20, 2020Council will continue to engage with businesses over rates deferral
Fingal County Council will continue to engage with businesses impacted by the current COVID-19 crisis following today’s announcement by the Government that local authorities should agree to defer rates payments from the most immediately impacted businesses until the end of May. Small and medium-sized businesses in Fingal who having difficulties with their rate payments should contact their rates collector to discuss the matter and agree an appropriate arrangement. Ratepayers that can continue to pay
Thursday, March 19, 2020Dublin And Cork Airports To Scale Back Passenger Operations Due To Impact Of COVID-19 On Travel
Airline passenger traffic has fallen dramatically in Ireland and across the world as a result of the global COVID-19 pandemic. Future passenger operations will be determined by a number of factors including Ireland’s travel policies in relation to the coronavirus pandemic, airline operations, and the travel policies of the airports’ main overseas markets. Passenger flights will continue to be facilitated for as long as they continue to operate. Intending passengers should continue to contact their
Wednesday, March 18, 2020Minister Donohoe outlines further measures to support Individuals and businesses impacted by COVID-19
The Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure & Reform, Paschal Donohoe T.D., today (Wednesday) welcomed the ongoing work of the Central Bank of Ireland, Banking and Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI), and the Revenue Commissioners to support customers in difficulties due to COVID-19. “Today, I had a constructive meeting with the five CEOs of our retail banks and with Banking and Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI). I note that a meeting will also be held with the Central Bank tomorrow. I welcome
Tuesday, March 17, 2020An Post update on special measures for Covid-19
- An Post supports national effort against COVID-19 with additional measures - Extended opening times and signing procedures to lower risk to customers and staff An Post is taking a range of special measures to ensure the health and safety of customers and staff while maintaining Post Office and Mails & Parcels services nationwide. Post Offices and Financial Services An Post and the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP) are working closely on measures to assist customers
Monday, March 16, 2020Flexibility, responsibility and continuity will protect the Irish economy from the worst impacts of the Covid-19
Fingal Dublin Chamber, Chambers Ireland and our nationwide network of chambers call for all businesses, Government and all State bodies to be flexible and responsible to the needs of their business and economic partners, so that we may ensure business continuity through this crisis. A strength of business people is that working together we find solutions. Part of the solution to those businesses seeing their income dry up is to assist in managing their outgoings, with cashflow being critical for all
Friday, March 13, 2020Skillnet Ireland COVID-19 Update
Fingal Dublin Chamber Skillnet is fully supportive of the Government’s efforts to effectively address and limit the spread of COVID-19 and to safeguard the protection of public health and that of our stakeholders. Fingal Dublin Chamber Skillnet management team are continuing to work and are available to discuss any queries that our businesses or trainees have regarding our scheduled training programmes and supports for businesses. In support of this national effort, Fingal Dublin Chamber Skillnet has
Friday, March 13, 2020Fingal Dublin Chamber COVID-19 Update
Fingal Dublin Chamber is fully supportive of the Government’s efforts to effectively address and limit the spread of COVID-19 and to safeguard the protection of public health and that of our members and stakeholders. In addition to being a public health concern, the virus has the potential to cause a significant and disruptive impact on business. Through our affiliation with Chambers Ireland, the national representative body for Chamber members, we have been in regular contact with the various
Thursday, March 12, 2020Business needs flexibility and clarity as we face this national crisis
Fingal Dublin Chamber, Chambers Ireland and the Network of chambers calls for clarity, certainty, and flexibility from the State and its agencies. As we work with Government to address this national crisis, we urge sincere engagement by state bodies to support businesses to stay afloat during these unprecedented times. Our member chambers are active in every major town and city in the country and the businesses which form our network are deeply embedded in their communities across the island. As the
Wednesday, March 11, 2020Chambers Ireland joins Government, Trade Unions & Employer Bodies in shared response to COVID19
Chambers Ireland has today issued the following joint statement with the Government, trade unions and other employer bodies. Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot said, “We are committed to showing flexibility and a co-operative approach in managing the inevitable disruption which will arise in these difficult and exceptional times and have also agreed to remain in close contact to monitor labour market developments, including a joint communications effort focused on employers and workers in
Tuesday, March 10, 2020Minister Humphreys announces supports for businesses impacted by COVID-19
The Minister of Business, Enterprise and Innovation (DBEI), Heather Humphreys TD, today announced details on the package of supports she has put in place for businesses impacted by COVID-19. Minister Humphreys said, “I know that this is a worrying time for businesses and I want to assure them that my Department and agencies are working on their behalf to develop and deliver a range of supports to help them through this rapidly evolving situation. The Minister continued, “I am hearing from many
Tuesday, March 10, 2020Next Government must align with EU Strategy to Support SMEs, says Chambers Ireland
Chambers Ireland welcomes the publication by the European Commission of a new SME Strategy, with the goal of empowering small businesses to make the digital and the sustainable transition. Welcoming the announcement today (10 March 2020) Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot said, “In the last decade circumstance dictated the EU was tasked primarily with addressing the impacts of the financial crisis. The next ten years pose a very different set of challenges, where we must decarbonize the
Monday, March 09, 2020Seven St Patrick’s Day parades in Fingal cancelled
Following a detailed risk assessment of the threat posed by Coronavirus (COVID-19), the Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Eoghan O’Brien, and the Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, AnnMarie Farrelly, have agreed that the seven St Patrick’s Day Parades which were to have taken place across the county should be cancelled. The parades affected are Swords, Balbriggan, Blanchardstown, Malahide, Skerries, Rush and Lusk. Fingal County Council will continue to follow the advice of the Department of Health and the
Friday, March 06, 2020Fingal pushed into the international spotlight as Royal couple visit historic town of Howth
Fingal was pushed into the international media spotlight this week when the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge spent an afternoon in Howth as part of their first official visit to Ireland. Mayor of Fingal Cllr Eoghan O’Brien, Fingal County Council Chief Executive AnnMarie Farrelly and Director of Operations David Storey were delighted to welcome the Royal couple to the historic Fingal town. Prince William and Princess Catherine enjoyed a walk along the Howth cliffs under glorious blue skies which
Friday, March 06, 2020Chambers Ireland calls for greater Gender Equality measures ahead of International Women’s Day
Ahead of International Women’s Day, Chambers Ireland calls on the next Government to significantly improve labour participation and work with business in transforming our workplaces, making them more flexible and inclusive. In particular, Chambers Ireland calls for action on reducing the gender gaps in employment, pay and pensions Speaking this morning (6 March 2020), Chambers Ireland President Siobhan Kinsella says, “The best way for Ireland to remain competitive and sustainable as an economy is
Thursday, February 27, 2020Housing Director rejects Mulhuddart protesters claims over housing allocation system
Protest delaying delivery of 65 social housing homes Legal action now required to get building resumed at site Fingal County Council’s Director of Housing, Margaret Geraghty, has rejected claims by protesters in relation to the allocation of houses at a social housing development in Mulhuddart where a protest has halted construction for the past six weeks. Speaking today at the monthly meeting of the Blanchardstown-Mulhuddart/Castleknock/Ongar Area Committee Ms Geraghty added that legal action is now
Tuesday, February 25, 2020Four new councillors co-opted to Fingal County Council
Four new councillors were co-opted as members of Fingal County Council at a Special Meeting this evening. The vacancies occurred following the election of four councillors to Dáil Eireann in the recent General Election. Cllr Aaron O’Rourke (Sinn Fein) replaces Deputy Paul Donnelly as a councillor for the Ongar Local Electoral Area. He was proposed by Cllr Natalie Treacy and seconded by Cllr Ann Graves. Cllr Pamela Conroy (Green Party) replaces Deputy Roderic O’Gorman as a councillor for the
Thursday, February 20, 2020Aviation Fuel Pipeline Construction - Stockhole Lane Traffic Management Plan
The second phase of construction works on the Aviation Fuel Pipeline on Stockhole Lane/Clonshaugh Road is due to commence on Monday. A major traffic management plan will be in operation for the duration of the construction works. The Aviation Fuel Pipeline project is designed to provide a secure and sustainable means of aviation fuel supply to Dublin Airport. The project aims to change the delivery method for aviation fuel from trucks to a 14.4km long steel underground pipe running from Dublin Port
Wednesday, February 19, 2020New European Digital Strategies will Boost Competitiveness, says Chambers Ireland
Chambers Ireland today (19 February 2020) welcomes the proposals from the European Commission on issues including Artificial Intelligence and Data. Strategic thinking from the Commission will make it easier for European businesses to compete with China and the US and ensure that businesses here in Ireland and the EU will be innovators and leaders in technology into the future. Speaking today, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot said, “Digital Innovation Hubs have been identified by the
Tuesday, February 18, 2020Cardiologist Gives Heartfelt Thanks To The Dublin Airport Police And Fire Officers Who Saved His Lif
Dublin Airport’s defibrillator CPR programme has helped save the life of a Consultant Cardiologist. The airport’s defibrillator CPR programme, which has saved 32 lives since it was first introduced in 2003, has recently been strengthened with the addition of two fully trained advanced paramedics to the Dublin Airport Fire Service response team, with two more advanced paramedics currently in training. The airport’s advanced paramedics were tested recently when a passenger arriving from the UK experienced
Wednesday, February 12, 2020The CSO’s Home Building Figures Obscure Underlying Problems
Chambers Ireland welcomes the increase in the CSO’s house completion figures but calls on political parties to ensure the next Programme for Government tackles delivery obstacles and relegates sprawl to the past. Speaking today, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot said, “We welcome the increased construction of new homes in the CSO figures and in particular the rise of concentrated building in urban areas. The increasing density of new developments is positive too, with apartment builds in
Monday, February 10, 2020A new design for Howth Old Courthouse as refurbishment works begins
The Old Courthouse of Howth is set to have a new look as refurbishments on the historic structure on Harbour Road are underway and set to continue over the next few months. Fingal County Council’s Economic, Enterprise and Tourism Development Department has appointed Tolmac Construction Ltd as the main contractor for the refurbishment of the Old Courthouse in Howth. The works started on site in early January 2020 and it is expected to take six months to complete. Mayor of Fingal, Cllr. Eoghan O’Brien said:
Friday, February 07, 2020Time for Reflection is Over: Delivery of Agreed Long-Term Plans Must be Immediate Priority of next Government
In the final 24 hours before polls open, Chambers Ireland calls on voters and candidates to deliver on agreed investment in existing plans for infrastructure and regional development. Speaking this morning, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot says, “Over the past number of years, huge efforts have been made by a wide cross-section of interests, including business, regional authorities, local Government and national legislators, to agree long-term strategies to improve our infrastructure, grow
Thursday, February 06, 2020Transformation to Inclusive 21st Century Workplace Must be Top of Next Government’s Jobs Strategy
In the face of ongoing economic challenges, on everything from changes to the international taxation environment, Foreign Direct Investment and Brexit, Chambers Ireland emphasises the need to improve the efficiency of our domestic economy and support labour participation. This objective must be central to the enterprise agenda of the incoming Government. Speaking today, Chambers Ireland President Siobhan Kinsella says, “The Goal of Decent work and Economic Growth is a major component of Chambers
Tuesday, February 04, 2020Strong Employment Figures Obscure Economic Threats
Chambers Ireland Chief Executive, Ian Talbot, welcomed today’s CSO employment figures which put our county in a solid position to face economic uncertainty in the coming months. "Adding to the existing Brexit uncertainty, recent polls suggest that piecing together a coherent programme for government after Saturday’s vote will be an extended and difficult affair. It is essential that all parties recognise the role that business plays in supporting the ambitions of their manifestos. The vast majority of
Friday, January 31, 2020Brexit Day: Another Cliff Edge Year Lies Ahead
Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot commented this morning on the UK's formal departure from the European Union taking place today. "Today marks a very sad day for businesses in Ireland with the departure of the United Kingdom from the EU. Businesses will now hope for a comprehensive, ambitious series of agreements to underpin the future relationship between the UK and the EU. Throughout the Brexit referendum processes and subsequent negotiations we expressed our regret at the UK’s decision to
Wednesday, January 29, 2020Memorandum of Understanding between Fingal Public Participation Network and Fingal County Council
A signing ceremony took place on Tuesday January 28, 2020 in Fingal County Council Chamber, County Hall, Swords of a Memorandum of Understanding between Fingal Public Participation Network (PPN) and Fingal County Council. The PPN Secretariat was delighted to present the Memorandum of Understanding between Fingal PPN and Fingal County Council which outlines in a clear and unambiguous manner the roles and responsibilities of Fingal County Council and Fingal PPN with regards to the delivery of the PPN
Friday, January 24, 2020Chambers Ireland Welcomes Temporary Trade Dispute Appeal system agreed at Davos
Chambers Ireland today (24 January 2020) welcomes the news from the World Economic Forum in Davos of the EU, China and 15 other countries agreeing to develop a temporary system for appealing trade disputes, following the breakdown of the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) Appellate Body in December 2019. Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot said, “Continued paralysis of dispute resolution processes threatened to undermine the critical rules-based WTO environment that underpins global trade. The
Friday, January 24, 2020Places Matter, says Chambers Ireland and Calls on Next Government to Support Balanced Regional Devel
Places Matter, says Chambers Ireland and Calls on Next Government to Support Balanced Regional Development Through Delivery of Critical Infrastructure Chambers Ireland today (24 January 2020) calls for the next Government to deliver on commitments in the National Planning Framework and Climate Action Plan and ensure delivery of important infrastructure needed to support the competitiveness and sustainability of our economy. Speaking this morning, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive, Ian Talbot
Wednesday, January 22, 2020Council continues to deliver its Rebuilding Ireland commitments
Councillors in Fingal County Council have approved plans to construct 87 more social homes on three sites in Swords, Cappagh and Clonshaugh as the Council continues to deliver on its commitments under the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan. Since 2015, Fingal County Council has delivered over 6,200 housing solutions through a range of delivery mechanisms including construction, Part V, acquisitions, leasing and Housing Assistance Payments (HAP). “Over the past five years councillors and staff have
Wednesday, January 22, 2020Dublin Airport Contributes €9.8 billion To Irish Economy Supporting Almost 130,000 Jobs
Dublin Airport supports or facilitates almost 130,000 jobs in the Republic of Ireland, according to a new study of the airport’s overall economic impact. The study, which was undertaken by economic consultants InterVISTAS, also found that Dublin Airport contributes a total of €9.8 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA) to the Irish economy, which is equivalent to more than 3% of the national economy. The study reveals that the 57% growth in Dublin Airport’s passenger numbers between 2013 and 2018 supported
Tuesday, January 21, 2020Fingal County Council officially opens Casino Model Railway Museum in Malahide
Fingal County Council is delighted to announce the official opening of the Casino Model Railway Museum, Malahide following the completion of a €4m restoration programme on the historic Casino building and conservation of the Fry Model Railway Collection. The Casino building which occupies a prominent position at the entrance to Malahide is the only cottage Orne of this type in Fingal and is of significant historical importance to Fingal’s architectural heritage. It has been carefully conserved,
Tuesday, January 21, 2020On Mission to Brussels, Chambers call on General Election Candidates to Set Out Strategy to Maximise
At the outset of President Von der Leyen’s Commission Presidency, Chambers Ireland is today (21 January 2020) leading a delegation from our Network of 40 Chambers to Brussels, meeting with EU officials to set out the priorities of Irish business during this new legislative term. Speaking this morning, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive, Ian Talbot, noted the extraordinary economic impact the EU has had on Ireland. “In the last decade, the EU was tasked with addressing the impacts of the financial crisis.
Wednesday, January 15, 2020Notice for the public regarding being registered to vote in the General Election
NOT SURE IF YOU ARE REGISTERED TO VOTE IN THE GENERAL ELECTION ON 8 FEBRUARY? THEN CHECK THE REGISTER AT WWW.VOTER.IE OR WWW.CHECKTHEREGISTER.IE In order to vote at the General Election on the 8th February you must be registered on the Register of Electors 2019/2020 You are eligible to vote in the General Election:-If you were on the register or supplement for the Local Election last May 2019 and the Bye Election in November 2019 and have Irish or British citizenship you are eligible
Tuesday, January 14, 2020Fingal Council appoints contractor to start work on the Hole in the Wall Road / Mayne Road Junction
Fingal County Council has announced the appointment of SIAC Construction Ltd to deliver the Hole in the Wall Road / Mayne Road Junction Upgrade scheme. The project involves the realignment of the junctions of the Mayne Road with the Hole in the Wall Road and the Drumnigh Road. It will create a much safer road layout for all road users by providing improved sightlines and new signalised crossing facilities, as well as new footpaths and cycleways and road pavement reconstruction. Mayor of Fingal,
Friday, January 10, 2020Chambers Ireland Welcomes Political Support for Deal to Restore Stormont
Chambers Ireland this evening (10 January 2020) welcomes news that there is support for the deal to restore Stormont’s political institutions. Speaking this evening, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot said, “The absence of power-sharing in Northern Ireland for nearly three years has been keenly felt on both sides of the border and so we welcome this evening’s development. Many issues will require the attention of the Stormont Assembly in the coming weeks and months, not least of all, Brexit
Thursday, January 09, 2020Ireland’s first Electric Bus takes to the road commissioned by Tifco Hotel group
Ireland’s first fully-electric bus went into operation today, representing another milestone in the country’s transition to a low-carbon future. The Volvo bus – commissioned by Tifco Hotel Group – will operate an 8km round trip between the Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Dublin Airport every 30 minutes from 4am to 11.30pm daily, 7 days a week. ESB, through its Smart Energy Services business, is providing a high-powered electric vehicle charging solution which will be located on the hotel
Friday, December 20, 2019Chambers Ireland calls on Government to be ambitious in plans to tackle waste
With the deadline for submissions to the Department of Communications, Climate Action and the Environment’s proposed environmental levies consultation closing today (20 December 2019), Chambers Ireland’s submission calls on the Government to recognise the urgency in changing our consumption patterns by introducing more stringent environmental levies to tackle waste problems in Ireland. However, such an approach must support, not punish, business innovation and those who are leading the way in a transition
Monday, December 16, 2019Greater business awareness of Brexit impact encouraging but more to be done
Following the publication of the survey results from the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation highlighting the level of Brexit preparation among Irish businesses, Chambers Ireland continues to urge businesses across different sectors to review and prepare for the potential impact of the UK’s departure from the EU and to use the transition period time-frame to prepare in 2020. Commenting on the results this afternoon, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot said, “It’s encouraging
Thursday, December 12, 2019Dublin Airport Launches Its First Digital Shopping Wall
Dublin Airport has launched a new digital shopping wall offering passengers an opportunity to shop at the gate. The digital shopping wall, which is located in the 100 gates boarding area, offers a range of products from The Loop. Items on the shopping wall are linked to a QR code that can be scanned into a smartphone which brings passengers to the specific item, then offers a further option to browse The Loop’s website. Any of the 18 products purchased at the digital wall or from The Loop’s website
Wednesday, December 11, 2019Paralysis of World Trade Organisation Appeals Mechanism a blow to Rules Based Global Trade
Chambers Ireland calls on the EU to work with global partners to advocate for rules-based trade and World Trade Organisation (WTO) reform following the paralysis and breakdown of the WTO’s Appellate Body. Speaking this afternoon, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot said, “We’re deeply concerned as to what today’s news means for the future of global rules-based trade and international dispute resolution. Ireland is a very small but very open economy and relies on these structures to ensure
Wednesday, December 11, 2019Fingal County Councillors hold meeting with Irish Water representatives
Fingal County Councillors have met with representatives from Irish Water following the two recent Boiled Water Notices that affected water supply in the Greater Dublin region. Irish Water’s National Head of Asset Operations Michael O’Leary attended a meeting of the Organisation and Procedure Committee at County Hall in Swords. Irish Water had previously been invited to the full council meeting in November but declined to attend. Mr O’Leary briefed councillors on the up-to-date position following
Tuesday, December 03, 2019Strong Exchequer Returns welcome but surplus must be invested wisely
Following the publication of the November Exchequer Returns this afternoon (3 December 2019), Chambers Ireland welcomes the strong performance of the economy and notes the record receipts in corporation tax, calling for above profile receipts to be transferred to the Rainy Day Fund. Noting the Exchequer Returns released today, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot said, “These exchequer returns show an economy performing very strongly. As we face global uncertainties arising from trade disputes
Friday, November 29, 2019Fingal County Council is 2019 Local Authority of the Year
Fingal County Council was named Local Authority of the Year at last night's Chambers Ireland Excellence in Local Government Awards which were held in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Santry. Fingal had been nominated in 11 different categories and picked up two awards as Our Balbriggan was named Best Practice in Citizen Engagement and the Dublin Bay Prawn Festival was named Festival of the Year. The Award was presented to the Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Eoghan O’Brien and the Chief Executive of Fingal County
Friday, November 29, 2019Fingal County Council named Local Authority of the Year 2019
Fingal County Council was named Local Authority of the Year at the Chambers Ireland Excellence in Local Government Awards, which took place yesterday evening (28 November 2019). The 16th annual Awards ceremony was held in association with the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government and showcases and celebrates the best of Local Government in Ireland. Ian Talbot, Chief Executive, Chambers Ireland said, “Local Authorities continue to make substantial efforts across multiple areas of
Wednesday, November 27, 2019Fingal libraries – enhancement of digital technologies infrastructure throughout its branch network
The enhancement of Fingal Libraries digital technologies infrastructure was launched by the Mayor of Fingal Cllr. Eoghan O'Brien at Malahide library on Monday November 25th , in the company of Fingal Chief Executive AnnMarie Farrelly, Director of Housing & Community Margaret Geraghty and County Librarian Betty Boardman. Fingal libraries has launched this enhancement to its digital technologies infrastructure on foot of an investment by Minister for Rural and Community Development, Michael Ring TD. This
Wednesday, November 27, 2019Fingal adopts budget of €269m for 2020
Fingal County Council has adopted a budget of €269m for 2020 to provide services and investment designed to improve the county as a place in which to live, work and invest. It is an increase of €32m from 2019 and is the equivalent of €911 per head of population. The 2020 Budget will enable the Council to continue managing the on-going demands of the fast-growing and youngest county in Ireland. The Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Eoghan O’Brien said: “The budget process began as soon as the new Council came
Friday, November 22, 2019Public Engagement Events on Fingal Coastal Way to take place
Fingal County Council is proposing to develop the Fingal Coastal Way, which will provide a high quality, safe, attractive and environmentally sympathetic coastal walking and cycling route to serve Fingal that will connect Newbridge Demesne, Donabate, Rush, Loughshinny, Skerries and Balbriggan. The proposed rural and urban greenway will encourage active recreation such as walkers, joggers and cyclists while offering an attractive alternative transport choice for school children and commuters, bringing
Thursday, November 21, 2019Fingal Community Facilities Network Launch ‘Connecting Communities’ Information Booklet
The Fingal Community Facilities Network has launched an information booklet that provides information on the range of services, facilities and activities available across all of the 31 community facilities supported by Fingal County Council’s Community Development Office. The launch of the Fingal Community Facilities Network Information Booklet “Connecting Communities” by the Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Eoghan O’Brien took place at Donabate Portrane Community Centre. The information booklet, compiled by the
Tuesday, November 19, 2019Launch of Fingal County Council’s Arts Plan 2019 – 2025
Swords Castle was the venue for the launch of the new Fingal County Council’s Arts Plan 2019-2025 which will set out the strategy for arts in the county for the next seven years. Mayor of Fingal, Councillor Eoghan O’Brien was joined by AnnMarie Farrelly, Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, Rory O’Byrne, County Arts Officer and special guest speaker Art O’Leary, Secretary-General to the President, in welcoming an audience of artists, cultural policymakers, educators, families and the general
Friday, November 15, 2019Solar powered compactible ‘smart bins’ launched in Howth by Fingal County Council
Fingal County Council have launched 35 solar powered compactible bins in the prime tourist town of Howth, following a successful pilot scheme. The bins feature sensors which alert Council staff when the bins become full, as well as pedals for hands-free opening and flaps that keep out seagulls and rodents. The 35 smart bins replace 70 conventional bins that had serviced the Howth area. PEL Waste Reduction Equipment, an Irish-owned manufacturing company, were awarded the tender via an open tender
Thursday, November 14, 2019Mayor and Chief Executive update Taoiseach on progress of Donabate Distributor Road
The Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Eoghan O’Brien and Fingal County Council Chief Executive AnnMarie Farrelly gave An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, TD, an update on the progress of the Donabate Distributor Road during a site visit today. The 4km road, which is the county’s first project under Rebuilding Ireland’s Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund, is due to be completed within eight weeks and will lead to the provision of 1,200 homes in the medium-term with an anticipated potential build of 2,200 homes
Wednesday, November 13, 2019Council welcomes An Bord Pleanála decision on Greater Dublin Drainage Project
Fingal County Council has welcomed the decision of An Bord Pleanála to grant planning permission for the Greater Dublin Drainage Project (GDDP) which is a critical piece of national infrastructure under Project Ireland 2040 and will secure the long term sustainable growth of the Greater Dublin Area. Fingal County Council played a lead role in the evolution of the project prior to it being transferred to Irish Water. As far back as 2005, as part of the Greater Dublin Strategic Drainage Study, Fingal
Tuesday, November 12, 2019First National Marine Planning Framework Key to Decarbonising Economy
Chambers Ireland today (12 November), welcomes the publication of Ireland’s first draft National Marine Planning Framework (NMPF), which sets out the Government’s proposed approach to the development of a strategic framework for developing, maintaining, and enhancing Ireland’s marine territories. Speaking this afternoon, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot said, “Ireland’s extensive marine territories exceed our land mass area by an order of magnitude. This vast area offers us great
Tuesday, November 05, 2019Reduced unemployment figures welcome but concerns on emerging skills gaps need to be addressed
Following today’s publication of the CSO’s Monthly Unemployment statistical release for October 2019, Chambers Ireland welcomes the further growth of people at work. Speaking this morning, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot commented; “We welcome the decline and general stability of the unemployment figures, which provides assurance regarding the strength and resilience of the Irish economy despite the volatility of international markets. However, as we approach full employment we must
Monday, November 04, 2019Boil Water Notice re-issued for customers supplied by Leixlip Water Treatment Plant
In consultation with the HSE, Irish Water and Fingal County Council can confirm that, as a precaution, a Boil Water Notice to protect the health of customers supplied by Leixlip Water Treatment Plant has been put in place for a second time. Due to heavy rain, turbidity (cloudy water due to suspended particles levels) in the source water for the old Leixlip Plant exceeded acceptable levels. Plant operators reacted quickly before alarms were activated and shut down the old plant to stop this water entering
Thursday, October 31, 2019Chambers Ireland welcomes OECD SME and Entrepreneurship Policy Review
Chambers Ireland welcomes today’s launch of the OECD-commissioned Review of SME policy and entrepreneurship in Ireland from Heather Humphreys TD, Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation and Pat Breen TD, Minister of State for Trade, Employment, Business, EU Digital Single Market and Data Protection. Speaking this morning, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot commented; “We welcome the roadmap recommendations in the Review released today. The OECD’s Review into Ireland’s SME
Tuesday, October 29, 2019AnnMarie Farrelly recommended as the next Chief Executive of Fingal County Council
Following an open competition, the Public Appointments Commission has recommended the appointment of AnnMarie Farrelly as Chief Executive of Fingal County Council. The Council’s Corporate Policy Group have unanimously supported the recommendation and the proposed appointment will now be considered at a meeting of Fingal County Council this Friday (November 1). Ms Farrelly has held the position of Interim Chief Executive since May following the departure of Paul Reid to become CEO of the Health
Friday, October 25, 2019Chambers Ireland makes urgent call for certainty on Brexit extension date
Following today’s announcement from the EU 27 member states that agreement has been reached in principle by the bloc to allow a further delay to Brexit beyond the 31st October, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot called for more immediate certainty with any extension. “While we appear to have an extension to the UK’s departure from the EU we need a confirmed date as a matter of urgency, for the sake of Irish businesses, their employees and the Irish economy as a whole. Businesses and consumers
Thursday, October 24, 2019Airport Charges Decision A Disaster For Passengers And For The Irish Economy
Aviation Regulator Limits Connectivity As Brexit Bites – Airline Shareholders To Benefit daa is hugely disappointed at today’s publication of the Commission for Aviation Regulation’s (CAR) Final Determination on Dublin Airport’s charges for 2020-2024. CAR has set a price of €7.87 for the period, which is 18% below Dublin Airport’s flat pricing proposal of €9.65 that was discussed with airlines 12 months ago. The flat pricing proposition would have funded almost €2 billion of much-needed investment at
Thursday, October 17, 2019Chambers Ireland outlines key priorities ahead of Budget 2020
Ahead of tomorrow’s announcement of Budget 2020 by the Minister of Finance, Chambers Ireland calls on Government to plan for the long-term challenges to the Irish economy. Speaking this morning (7 October 2019), Siobhan Kinsella, President of Chambers Ireland outlined some of Chambers Ireland’s key asks for Budget 2020 and beyond. “The priority of our network is investment in capital infrastructure, where we want to see real progress in the delivery of capital projects. We will also be closely
Monday, October 14, 2019Councillors approve €619m Capital Programme
Councillors approved a Capital Programme worth €619m at tonight’s monthly meeting of Fingal County Council in County Hall, Swords. The three-year rolling programme runs from 2020 to 2022 across seven divisions and represents a €30.63m increase on the 2019-2021 Capital Programme and a 91% increase on the €324m provided for in the 2017-2019 Capital Programme. A total of 236 projects are included with an estimated spend of €187m in 2020. The following year, 2021, capital expenditure will be in the region of
Tuesday, October 08, 2019Plan for Brexit will be welcomed by business, but a missed opportunity to invest
Following today’s Budget 2020 statement by Minister Paschal Donohoe, Chambers Ireland welcomes the overall approach of the Government to opt for prudence and to prepare for the very real possibility of a No-Deal Brexit. Speaking this afternoon, Chambers Ireland President Siobhan Kinsella said, “Under normal circumstances, with the economy performing as well as it has been, we would be expecting a very different Budget. But in the words of the Minister, this is an uncertain and unprecedented time. We
Tuesday, October 08, 2019Chambers Ireland welcomes Mary Robinson in an address to members of the business community
Chambers Ireland welcomes Mary Robinson in an address to members of the business community, calls for more urgent action in the transformation of Ireland into a sustainable competitive low carbon economy As the official sponsor and host of the event, Gavin Kelly CEO Retail Ireland Bank of Ireland said, “Conducting our business in a responsible and sustainable way is fundamental to enabling our customers, colleagues and communities to thrive. Our research shows that Irish people are increasingly
Tuesday, October 01, 2019Council launches new-look fingal.ie website
Fingal County Council’s website, fingal.ie, has been relaunched after receiving a major revamp that has resulted in a new look and a platform that has become much more than just a local authority website. The new ground-breaking website, which has a strong emphasis on easy navigation, stunning imagery and relevant content, revolves around four main pillars called Council, Resident, Business and Visitor with secondary pillars covering News and Events, The Council pillar is a new-look equivalent of
Thursday, September 26, 2019Chambers Ireland SDG pledge embodies leadership on Sustainable Development, says ICC
Chambers Ireland has announced that all 41 of its chambers of commerce have committed to the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). From the capital region of Dublin to the port cities, like Waterford, Galway, and Cork, the Irish Chambers Pledge covers the entirety of Ireland’s chambers network. Ireland has experienced tremendous economic growth, as evidenced by the country’s 7.8% GDP growth in 2017 – one of the highest GDP growth rates in the European Union - according to the
Wednesday, September 25, 2019Chambers lead the way on Sustainable Development Goals
Chambers Ireland and ICC Ireland have announced that both they and the network of affiliated Chambers across Ireland have together signed up to a new charter to support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to reflect the objectives of relevant Goals in undertaking their activities in the future. Chambers Ireland chief executive Ian Talbot commented on this new pledge, “To mark this four-year anniversary of the launch of the SDGs initiative, Chambers Ireland, ICC Ireland and our affiliated Chambers
Tuesday, September 24, 2019Chambers Ireland Calls for Budget 2020 to Focus on Planning for the Long-Term, as well as Brexit
Chambers Ireland, in an address to the Oireachtas Committee on Budgetary Oversight, welcomes the prudent decision by the Minister of Finance to plan for a 'No-Deal' Brexit Budget, but also calls on Government and legislators not to lose sight of other longer-term challenges for the Irish economy. Addressing the Committee this afternoon (24 September 2019), Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot said, “While the impact of Brexit requires significant attention, we must not lose sight of the
Tuesday, September 24, 2019Council publishes proposals for the construction of a new Pedestrian and Cycle Bridge in Donabate
Fingal County Council has commenced a Part 8 procedure to obtain planning approval for the construction of a new pedestrian and cycle bridge over the Dublin to Belfast Railway line at Corballis, Donabate. The proposed bridge will cross over the railway line south of Donabate Train Station, thereby facilitating a safe and segregated pedestrian and cycle route over the railway line. It will enhance connections between the development lands at Corballis, Donabate Village, the railway station and Newbridge
Friday, September 20, 2019Fingal County Council with Local Link and GoCar announce ''Community Car'' Service
Fingal County Council in partnership with Local Link and GoCar will launch a pilot ‘Community Car’ Service in Howth and Skerries within the coming weeks. Local community travel is a lifeline for many people who do not drive, allowing them to get out and about, access local amenities and stay part of the local community. This very often isn’t an option for those who live rurally or have no local bus service available to them or declining mobility may be preventing them from using public transport. This
Thursday, September 19, 2019First Concrete Pavement To Be Poured At Dublin Airport’s New North Runway
The first concrete pavement for Dublin Airport’s new North Runway will be laid within the next 10 days. The start of construction of pavement quality concrete, which is the top layer of the new runway, is a key milestone for the €320 million North Runway project. The concrete will be poured at the western end of the new runway, which is more than six times longer than Dublin’s O’Connell Street. “We’re delighted to be starting to build the top pavement concrete layer of Ireland’s new runway,” said daa
Wednesday, September 11, 2019No-Deal Brexit must be prepared for, but capital projects must be delivered
Following the Cabinet level agreement that Budget 2020 is to be prepared under a ‘no-deal’ Brexit scenario, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot has welcomed this decision, specifically the regional and sectoral approach, and calls on Government to ensure that spending for capital projects is delivered. “Decisions on Budget 2020 must be based on what we know. Currently there is no Withdrawal Agreement, so the departure of the UK from the EU without a deal at the end of October must be the
Tuesday, September 10, 2019Chambers Ireland welcomes nomination of Phil Hogan as EU Trade Commissioner
Chambers Ireland welcomes the nomination of Phil Hogan, by the European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen, as the EU’s next Trade Commissioner. Speaking today, Chambers Ireland chief executive Ian Talbot wished the new Commissioner well and urged him to continue the advancement of a progressive SME-friendly trade agenda on behalf of the EU. “Commissioner Hogan brings great experience to the role from his previous portfolio as Commissioner for Agriculture, particularly from his work in
Tuesday, September 10, 2019Fingal councillors vote to retain 10 per cent reduction in Local Property Tax
Interim Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, AnnMarie Farrelly, has welcomed the decision of councillors at last night’s monthly meeting to retain a 10 per cent reduction in the Local Property Tax for 2020. The elected members in Fingal voted by 31 votes to seven to accept a motion to retain the 10 per cent reduction. Councillors have the option each year to make an adjustment in the Local Property Tax of up to 15 per cent. The decision means that Fingal County Council, for the third successive
Monday, September 09, 2019Fingal County Council launches its Climate Change Action Plan 2019-2024
Fingal County Council has launched its Climate Change Action Plan 2019-2024 at County Hall, Swords today (Monday, September 9). The final Plan contains 133 actions that are on-going or planned within the Council, covering five key action areas – Energy and Buildings, Transport, Flood Resilience, Nature-Based Solutions and Resource Management. Four key targets have been identified, namely:33% improvement in the Council’s energy efficiency by 202040% reduction in the Council’s greenhouse gas
Tuesday, September 03, 2019Council invites submissions on Draft Dublin Airport Local Area Plan
Fingal County Council is inviting submissions in relation to the Draft Dublin Airport Local Area Plan which will be on public display for the next six weeks. The draft Local Area Plan can be viewed at County Hall, Swords, Civic Offices, Blanchardstown, Fingal branch libraries or at www.fingal.ie. Submissions can be made online at consult.fingal.ie; by email to devplan@fingal.ie; or by post to Senior Executive Officer, Planning and Strategic Infrastructure Department, Fingal County Council, County
Thursday, August 29, 2019Fingal’s rich and diverse heritage highlighted in Heritage Plan
Fingal’s third Heritage Plan 2019 which sets out key actions to support and sustain the County’s rich and diverse heritage has been launched by Mayor of Fingal Cllr Eoghan O’Brien. The Plan, launched in St Sylvester’s Parish Church in Malahide, recognises the full range of Fingal’s historic inheritance ranging from natural landscapes like the Howth peninsula and Naul Hills, to over 1,000 monuments and archaeological sites including Drumanagh and Swords Castle. Further examples include industrial and
Tuesday, August 27, 2019Council welcomes FLAG North East funding of €600,000 for Fingal coastal projects
Fingal County Council has welcomed the announcement by the North East Fisheries Local Action Group (FLAG) of continued investment in a diverse range of projects across Fingal this year. Grants totalling €973,221 have been announced in the FLAG North East Area, which covers the counties of Dublin, Meath and Louth. The Fingal region has directly benefited from €600,000 in funding over the last three years in conjunction with the FLAG North East programme. A total of 36 FLAG projects were approved
Tuesday, August 27, 2019Community Environment Action Fund 2019
The Community Environment Action Fund, previously known as the Local Agenda 21 Environmental Partnership Fund, is now seeking applications. Fingal County Council is seeking environmental project proposals from local schools or community, youth or residents groups by the application deadline of September 27th 2019. Do you have a project or initiative that could help your community to be become more sustainable or increase awareness of environmental issues locally? If so, you may qualify for financial
Friday, August 23, 2019New Fingal Local Studies and Archives building officially open its doors
Fingal Local Studies & Archives has officially opened its new facilities at 46 North Street, Swords after its move from its previous location in Clonmel House, Swords. The new location provides a valuable service with a much-improved location, with a clearer street presence and closer proximity to the planned multi-million euro Swords Cultural Quarter. Eventually, it is intended that the Local Studies & Archives will move to the proposed County Library building in the Cultural Quarter. Betty
Tuesday, August 13, 2019Infrastructure and Housing measures at the heart of Chambers Ireland’s Pre-Budget Submission
Speaking this morning (13 August 2019) about Chambers Ireland’s Budget 2020 recommendations on Infrastructure and Housing, chief executive Ian Talbot emphasised that regardless of the economic uncertainties we face, Government must ensure that the NDP investments set out under that plan are realised. “The priority issue for Budget 2020, as identified by our network of chambers, is that we must see real progress in the capital projects included in the NDP. For this plan to be delivered the project
Friday, August 09, 2019Council awards contract to operate Fry Model Railway Museum at the restored Casino building in Malah
Fingal County Council is delighted to announce that the contract for the operation of the Fry Model Railway Museum at the beautifully restored Casino building in Malahide has been awarded to Shannon Heritage. The restoration and extension of the Casino was completed in April, paving the way for the installation of the Fry Model Railway to its new permanent home. The Casino building has been vacant since 2004 but thanks to significant investment from Fingal County Council, as well as a generous bequest
Thursday, August 01, 2019Fingal County Council continues to deliver pipeline of newly constructed social houses
Fingal County Council is gearing up for a busy second half of 2019 as its social housing construction programme remains on target. Due to strong growth between 2015-2018, Fingal exceeded its targets under the Rebuilding Ireland Programme and provided 4,000 social housing solutions. Fingal continues to have an ambitious social housing construction programme with building activity currently taking place on six sites across Fingal. Keys are expected to be handed over shortly to 84 families
Thursday, August 01, 2019Great engagement at Consultation Workshop on Bremore Regional Park Masterplan
There was great engagement and lively debate at the consultation workshop on Bremore Regional Park, held in the Bracken Court Hotel on Tuesday evening. The enthusiastic crowd of almost 70 people in attendance included local Councillors Cllr. Grainne Maguire, Cllr. Tony Murphy and Cllr. Joe O’Brien as well as members of many local community and sports clubs. The event, organised by Fingal County Council’s Parks and Green Infrastructure Division, assisted by the Our Balbriggan Team, was used to introduce
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Thursday, August 01, 2019Swords Cultural Quarter development continues as preparations are made for new civic plaza
Fingal County Council continues to drive forward with its flagship Swords Cultural Quarter project with significant preparatory work taking place this week which will ultimately form part of a new civic plaza set against the backdrop of Swords Castle. Contractors carried out the demolition of four derelict buildings on North Street which has created a new focal point at the junction of North Street, Main Street and Seatown Road in a major step forward for the Swords Cultural Quarter project. The
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Wednesday, July 31, 2019Brexit could impact every business in Ireland – preparation is critical
Reports today that in the last year the majority of SMEs have either postponed, or are reviewing, their investment plans highlights the impact of the Brexit negotiations on the Irish economy. Speaking this morning, Chambers Ireland chief executive Ian Talbot emphasised the importance for businesses of all sizes to prepare now before the UK’s final departure deadline at the end of October. “Brexit uncertainty and the threat of a ‘no-deal’ has caused significant damage to businesses across the
Monday, July 29, 2019Council has commenced tendering process for Snugborough Interchange Upgrade scheme
Fingal County Council has commenced the tendering process for a main contractor to undertake the Snugborough Interchange Upgrade scheme, which will bring about significant improvements for motorists, pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users. The project includes the construction of a new bridge over the N3, adjacent to the existing Snugborough Road bridge, as well as a new footpath and cycle track. A new pedestrian and cyclist underpass will also be built. Measures to improve the
Thursday, July 25, 2019Fingal County Council moves forward with its first Affordable Housing Scheme development
Fingal County Council is moving forward with its first Affordable Housing Scheme, which is aimed at addressing some of the challenges faced by low-to-middle income earners in purchasing a property. The Council is seeking expressions of interest from development partners for the design, construction, delivery and sale of the scheme at Dun Emer in Lusk. Some €1.5m has been allocated for the reconstruction of Kilhedge Lane under the Government’s Serviced Site Fund established to provide key
Wednesday, July 24, 2019Work on the Baldoyle to Portmarnock Greenway gets underway
Construction has commenced on the Baldoyle to Portmarnock walking and cycling greenway project in North County Dublin. Murphy International was awarded this 2.5 million euro contract earlier this month by Fingal County Council. The proposed 1.8km greenway is located in the Racecourse Park and will allow cyclists and pedestrians to travel through the park parallel to the Coast road linking Baldoyle with Portmarnock. The route was designed by Atkins, taking specific account of the coastal setting and
Monday, July 22, 2019Fingal and other Local Authorities take a closer look at the Arts
A new report developed by Fingal Arts Office, along with three other arts offices, outlines the value and impact of local authority arts programmes and advises on what the sector can achieve and the measures required to support further success. The particular focus of the Fingal element of the study was on what can be achieved in the area of young people and the arts. The report was launched this week by Jackie Maguire, Chair of the County and City Management Association (CCMA) and Chief Executive of
Wednesday, July 17, 2019Consultation Workshop on Bremore Regional Park Balbriggan
Fingal County Council’s Parks and Green Infrastructure Division are developing a Masterplan to guide the future development of Bremore Regional Park and we want your views. Located north of Balbriggan along the coast, the Park is comprised of 41 hectares. The Park includes important historic sites, (most notably Bremore Castle) and landscapes, while providing significant public amenities. A key feature of the Park masterplan will be the consideration of the Visual, Historic and Ecological attributes of
Friday, July 12, 2019Fingal County Council to carry out substantial investment in regional roads, including provision of
Fingal County Council plans to carry out a multi-million euro investment in regional roads across Fingal, which will include the provision of extensive cycling infrastructure as part of the upgrade works. An extensive examination of the regional road network was carried out across the County, and has prompted a two-phase approach to improving the network for all road users, including pedestrians and cyclists. Work is set to begin shortly on the first project under this programme on carriageway
Tuesday, July 09, 2019Businesses must actively prepare for worst case Brexit scenario
Following today's (9 July 2019) publication of the revised Brexit contingency action plan from the Irish Government, Ian Talbot, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive urges businesses to comprehensively review this latest Brexit resource and to continue to prepare for a highly possible 'no-deal' outcome this October. “Today's revised contingency action plan is being published as a result of the lack of action being taken, or likely to be taken in the next few weeks, in Westminster to remove the threat of a
Wednesday, July 03, 2019Dublin Airport Sees The Light With New Device To Carry Out Essential Airfield Safety Checks
Airport and tech start-up work together to deliver a global first Dublin Airport has collaborated with an Irish tech start-up company Cute Machines to produce a new device that revolutionises the measurement of light levels around aircraft parking stands. The device which was developed through Dublin Airport’s participation at a Hackathon at DCU, reduces the time needed to check each parking stand’s light levels from 40 minutes to just two and a half minutes. This means that parking stands don’t have
Wednesday, June 26, 2019Dublin and Cork Airports Commit to Achieve Net Zero Emissions by 2050
Dublin and Cork airports have today signed a landmark commitment to become net zero for their carbon emissions by 2050 at the latest. Dublin and Cork Airports made the commitment as part of ACI EUROPE, the trade association for the European airport industry, announcing a new resolution formally committing the European airport industry to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. The collective pledge, which was signed by 194 airports, operated by 40 airport operators across 24 countries, marks a significant
Tuesday, June 18, 2019Aircraft Noise Competent Authority to be established
Fingal County Council has been appointed as the Competent Authority for the purposes of aircraft noise regulation at Dublin Airport by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross, TD. The Council received formal notice of its appointment today and will now proceed to establish the Aircraft Noise Competent Authority. Following the signing of the Aircraft Noise (Dublin Airport) Regulation Act 2019 into law on May 22 by the President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins, Part 1 of the Act has now
Monday, June 17, 2019Smart investment and realistic implementation will be key to Climate Plan success
Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot today (17 June 2019) welcomes the publication of the All Government Climate Action Plan and highlights the need for an all island perspective on how we transition to a low carbon economy. “The publication of this plan is welcomed by the business community. Supporting the transition to a low carbon economy is identified as one of the central priorities of our network of chambers nationwide. If we are to realise the collective goal of tackling climate disruption,
Friday, June 07, 2019Have your say on the Fingal Digital Strategy
Fingal County Council is preparing a Digital Strategy for Fingal, which will describe how technology can help improve the way we live, work and do business in Fingal. The Council is asking members of the public to say what they would like to see in the Strategy. The Digital Strategy will focus on six main themes:Digital Economy – Making Fingal the best place to start and grow your businessDigital Skills – Promoting digital skills services across the CountyDigital Services – Building better public
Thursday, June 06, 2019Fingal County Council lodges application to construct “iconic” Broadmeadow Way
Fingal County Council has lodged an application with An Bord Pleanala for planning consent for the Broadmeadow Way, a proposed new walking and cycling greenway route of approximately 6km in length between Malahide Demesne and Newbridge Demesne in Donabate. The proposed development will run across the Malahide Estuary adjacent to the mainline railway viaduct and will, if approved, provide an iconic route for walkers and cyclists of all abilities and ages to enjoy this stunning coastal route. It is
Wednesday, May 29, 2019Design work on 32km-long Fingal Coastal Way has commenced
Fingal County Council has commenced design work on the Fingal Coastal Way project, a 32km, high-quality recreational walking and cycling route connecting Donabate, Rush, Skerries, Ardgillan Castle, Balbriggan and Bremore Castle. Multi-disciplinary consultancy Atkins has been appointed to work alongside the Fingal County Council project team to carry out the feasibility study, route options and environmental assessment and preliminary design work over a three-year programme. The proposed greenway
Monday, May 27, 2019Chief Executive looking forward to working with new Council
Interim Chief Executive, AnnMarie Farrelly, has extended her congratulations to those elected to Fingal County Council over the weekend and stated she and her colleagues are looking forward to working with them to keep Fingal the place of choice to live, work, visit and do business in. “I offer my congratulations to all our new and returning councillors and particularly to our Mayor and Deputy Mayor who had to balance their obligations of office with campaigning over the last few months. Some of the
Friday, May 24, 2019Theresa May’s successor must avoid a disorderly Brexit
With today’s announcement (24 May 2019) of UK Prime Minister Theresa May’s official resignation on 7 June, Chambers Ireland calls on the British Parliament to elect a Prime Minister who will seek to prevent a no-deal, disorderly Brexit. Speaking this afternoon, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot said, “Today’s announcement by Mrs. May brings progress on the Withdrawal Agreement to a halt. Unless all sides agree upon a plan, Britain leaves the European Union with a no-deal Brexit by automatic
Wednesday, May 22, 2019Popular bike-sharing scheme extended to three more Fingal towns
Fingal County Council has extended its popular bike-sharing scheme, which allows cyclists use bikes that are publicly available, to Swords, Malahide and Howth. The scheme allows cyclists to use ‘smart’ bikes with inbuilt GPS technology. By downloading the BleeperBike App, users can register and find their nearest BleeperBike, scan the QR code on the bike to unlock it and it is ready for use. This removes the need to develop and construct expensive and often inconvenient docking stations associated
Tuesday, May 14, 2019AnnMarie Farrelly appointed as Interim Chief Executive of Fingal County Council
AnnMarie Farrelly has been appointed as Interim Chief Executive of Fingal County Council following the departure of Paul Reid to become Director General of the Health Service Executive. Ms Farrelly, who held the role of Director of Planning and Strategic Infrastructure, was appointed by the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government and assumes the role of Interim CEO from today (May 14) until a permanent appointment is made by the Public Appointments Service. “Quality of life, housing
Tuesday, May 14, 2019A future-proofed accessible broadband network essential for 21st century economic prosperity
Chambers Ireland is the national voice of Ireland’s largest business network. Our network has the broadest geographic presence, reaching towns and cities across the country. As a network, we want to see sustainable communities thrive in locally vibrant economic environments. A fast, national, reliable broadband network is a prerequisite for this. Speaking this afternoon, following the Cabinet’s decision to appoint a preferred bidder to the National Broadband Plan, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian
Thursday, May 09, 2019daa Extremely Concerned At Aviation Regulator’s Flawed Airport Charges Proposal
Dublin Airport’s current low charges model is delivering for passengers, for airlines and for the Irish economy daa is extremely concerned at the proposal from the Commission for Aviation Regulation (CAR) to reduce airport charges at Dublin Airport by more than 22% over the next five years. The draft pricing determination is fundamentally flawed and does not take account of the current reality at Dublin Airport. The reduction in airport charges being proposed by CAR is unjustified and risks creating
Tuesday, April 16, 2019New Electoral Portal Voter.ie Launched in the Dublin Region
A new web portal enabling over 1 million Dublin residents to check their electoral details in real-time has been rolled out in the Dublin region. Voters can check if they are eligible to vote in an election by entering their full name and address or Eircode on the Voter.ie website. It is an additional service available to voters in Dublin and it does not replace the existing paper process. Voter.ie is a joint initiative involving the four Dublin local authorities. It was developed to improve the
Tuesday, April 16, 2019Chambers Ireland Launches Local Government Manifesto
Today (16 April 2019), Chambers Ireland is launching our Local Government manifesto and calls on voters to ask their candidates the hard questions about the long-term future of their areas: How candidates intend to deliver sustainable infrastructure and housing for their communities? What will they do to support local economic development? And, how will their policies help adapt our economy to decarbonisation? Chambers Ireland is a network of businesses with a geographic reach that spans the cities and
Monday, April 15, 2019Chambers Ireland Calls on European Candidates to Keep Europe Competitive
The deadline for candidates to submit nomination papers ahead of the upcoming EU elections is at midday this afternoon. Ahead of the nomination deadline, Chambers Ireland calls on candidates to advocate for a sustainable, competitive Europe that creates jobs and supports economic growth. Speaking today (15 April 2019), Chambers Ireland Chief Executive, Ian Talbot said, “These are precarious times. The outcome of Brexit is still to be decided, and on the continent, we are seeing ever increasing
Thursday, April 11, 2019Official Opening of Stephenstown Link Road in Balbriggan
The Stephenstown Link Road was officially opened on Monday, 8th April 2019 with Mayor of Fingal Cllr Anthony Lavin cutting the ribbon on this key piece of infrastructure development within Balbriggan. Also in attendance were Paul Reid, Chief Executive Fingal County Council, local Councillors Deputy Mayor Gráinne Maguire, Cllr. Tony Murphy, Cllr. Malachy Quinn, Cllr. Cathal Boland, Cllr. Tom O’Leary, Senator James Reilly, Senator Lorraine Clifford-Lee as well as members of the Balbriggan Chamber, Jons
Thursday, April 11, 2019Fingal Dublin Chamber Launches New Skillnet
Fingal Dublin Chamber launches a new Skillnet in Swords Castle to provide subsidised enterprise-led training. Fingal Dublin Chamber Skillnet will be reaching out to companies across Fingal to find out what are their training requirements for 2019 to sustain and grow their businesses and match these requirements with suitable high-quality training programmes. The opportunity for companies to drive the training provision is key in the Skillnet model which focuses on the companies needs to develop a strong
Wednesday, April 03, 2019Chambers Ireland Calls on Government to Urgently Complete Review of Local Property Tax
Following the announcement of Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe to undertake further consultation and defer the valuation date, Chambers Ireland today (3 April 2019) calls for a commitment from Government to review this decision and complete the review of LPT as a priority in advance of Budget 2020 so that no further deferral of the valuation date beyond 1 November 2020 takes place. Speaking this afternoon Ian Talbot, CEO of Chambers Ireland said, "LPT is a vital part of widening our tax base to
Sunday, March 31, 2019airBaltic Launches New Dublin To Riga Service
Dublin Airport welcomes the launch of airBaltic’s four times weekly summer service to Riga. The airline will operate its new service with an Airbus A220-300. “We are delighted to welcome airBaltic back to Dublin Airport re-establishing the connection between our two capital cities,” said Dublin Airport Managing Director Vincent Harrison. “Riga is a beautiful city steeped in history and culture and its old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Not only can passengers now fly direct to Riga they
Friday, March 29, 2019Chambers Ireland calls for a delay to Brexit and a long extension of talks
Chambers Ireland today (29 March 2019) calls for a delay to Brexit and a long extension of talks, following this afternoon’s defeat of the Withdrawal Agreement in the House of Commons. Speaking this afternoon Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot said; "Despite the efforts made over the past week by all parties to forge an acceptable compromise agreement, businesses now find themselves in an even more precarious position, where the UK’s departure without any deal is still a real possibility. This
Tuesday, March 26, 2019Fingal County Council welcomes MetroLink announcement
Fingal County Council has welcomed today’s announcement by the National Transport Authority and Transport Infrastructure Ireland on the Preferred Route for MetroLink, linking Swords to Charlemont. The Council has also stressed the importance of ensuring that the project sticks to its proposed timelines and becomes operational as scheduled in 2027. The Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, Paul Reid, who led the calls for the Northern route to be prioritised, said today’s announcement would be
Friday, March 22, 2019Project management team to be appointed to oversee Swords Cultural Quarter development
Fingal County Council is to seek to appoint a project management services team to oversee the delivery of projects within the multi-million euro Swords Cultural Quarter (SCQ) development. The Swords Cultural Quarter will contain a major new central public and civic space set against the backdrop of the historic Swords Castle. It will boast a new library, public theatre and art exhibition space adjacent to County Hall, as well as a new cultural quarter on North Street/Main Street. Significant
Wednesday, March 20, 2019Fingal County Council welcomes allocation of €3m funding for Sustainable Transport projects
Fingal County Council has welcomed the allocation of €3m from the National Transport Authority (NTA) which will support an ambitious programme of pedestrian and cycle improvement schemes around the county. Some 11 projects, including four new schemes, have been awarded funding under the Sustainable Transport Measures Grants (STMG) 2019 programme in the largest round of funding the local authority has received since this funding programme was initiated by the NTA in 2011. The funding boost under
Friday, March 15, 2019Additional services should be devolved to Irish local authorities from central government
Fingal County Council Chief Executive Paul Reid has stated that the debate surrounding Local Government in Ireland needs to extend from just the focus on who runs the sector to a debate about what services could be further devolved from Central Government. Addressing a conference organised by the Centre for Local and Regional Governance in University College Cork on Thursday evening (March 14), Mr Reid said compared to other countries from around the world, Irish local authorities had fewer services
Friday, March 15, 2019Additional services should be devolved to local authorities from central government - Paul Reid
Additional services should be devolved to Irish local authorities from central government – Fingal County Council Chief Executive Fingal County Council Chief Executive Paul Reid has stated that the debate surrounding Local Government in Ireland needs to extend from just the focus on who runs the sector to a debate about what services could be further devolved from Central Government. Addressing a conference organised by the Centre for Local and Regional Governance in University College Cork on
Thursday, March 14, 2019Busy St. Patrick’s Weekend at Dublin Airport
Busy St. Patrick’s Weekend at Dublin AirportLá Fhéile Shona ó Aerfort Bhaile Átha Cliath More than one third of a million passengers will pass through Dublin Airport over the St. Patrick’s Bank Holiday Weekend. The airport is expecting more than 350,000 passengers to arrive and depart from Friday March 15 to Monday March 18, which is a 6% increase compared to last year. Passengers will be arriving for the St Patrick’s Festival celebrations, returning from the Cheltenham Festival and travelling to and from
Wednesday, March 13, 2019New February Record At Dublin Airport
New February Record At Dublin Airport Just over 2 million passengers passed through Dublin Airport in February, a 9% increase over the same month last year. This is the first time in the airport’s 79-year history that passenger numbers have surpassed two million in February, which is traditionally the quietest month of the year. Passenger volumes to and from continental Europe increased by 12%, as just under one million passengers travelled to and from European destinations in February. UK traffic
Wednesday, March 13, 2019Removal of ‘no-deal’ welcome, now is the time for constructive solutions
Commenting this evening (13 March 2019) on the UK Parliament’s vote on leaving the European Union without a Withdrawal Agreement and a Framework for the Future Relationship, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot said, “We welcome the result of tonight’s vote and the progress being made to ensure a disorderly withdrawal from the EU by the UK does not occur. However the vote is of little relevance unless it is followed up with firm and decisive legislative action by the UK Parliament to stop
Tuesday, March 12, 2019Fingal celebrates a quantum leap in success for BT Young Scientist of the Year Adam Kelly
Fingal has celebrated the success of its students and schools in the 2019 BT Young Scientist competition, as Young Scientist of the Year Adam Kelly was recognised for his impressive achievement. Tributes were paid at the event on March 11 (Monday) in County Hall, Swords to his family, his teacher Ms Lennon, and his school, Skerries Community College, for supporting and aiding Adam’s winning efforts. Students, teachers and family in attendance from Loreto Secondary School in Balbriggan, St. Joseph’s
Wednesday, March 06, 2019Dublin Airport Among The World's Best For Customer Experience
Dublin Airport Among The World's Best For Customer Experience Dublin was Europe’s joint best airport in 25m-40m passenger category in global ASQ awards Dublin Airport has been named one of the best airports in the world in a global ranking of passenger experience. Dublin Airport was the joint winner in its category of European Airports that have 25-40 million passengers per year in the Airports Council International (ACI) World Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Awards which were announced today. Dublin
Tuesday, March 05, 2019All set for St Patrick’s Day as Fingal County Council prepares for parades
All set for St Patrick’s Day as Fingal County Council prepares for parades St. Patrick’s Day in Fingal is set to be a bustling celebration of all things Irish, as over 136 groups and counting take part in parades to be held across the county. Fingal County Council’s Events Unit has fielded 53 applications from Swords, 47 from Blanchardstown and 36 from Balbriggan so far. Fingal County Council would like to welcome everyone to enjoy the parades. Locations and starting times on Sunday (March 17)
Monday, March 04, 2019Irish business invited to ‘Spring’ into CSR plans with Awards launch
Irish business invited to ‘Spring’ into CSR plans with Awards launch Chambers Ireland today (4 March 2019) launched the Corporate Social Responsibility Awards 2019 at St. Stephen’s Green. The CSR Awards offer the business community a chance to promote and highlight the best practice CSR activities taking place in companies of all sizes across Ireland. The Awards showcase projects that help to improve the workplace for the benefit of all employees; that engage with and help to improve the communities in
Thursday, February 28, 2019Fingal seeks submissions on the proposed Royal Canal Urban Greenway route
Fingal County Council is seeking submissions from the public on the proposed Royal Canal Urban Greenway route. The public consultation is open until March 25, 2019. The route will serve Castleknock, Blanchardstown, Clonsilla, Coolmine and the wider Dublin 15 area. The proposed Urban Greenway will encourage recreation while offering an alternative transport choice for school children and commuters. This will bring significant environmental, economic and health benefits to the wider community. Taking into
Wednesday, February 27, 2019Fingal County Council launches its new Skills Strategy in a first for Local Authorities in Ireland
Fingal County Council has launched the Fingal Skills Strategy, the first of its kind to be developed by any Local Authority in Ireland. Launched in Swords Castle Chapel on Tuesday (February 26), it identifies gaps between the skills of Fingal’s workforce and the skills that employers need. The Strategy sets out specific actions such as developing new training courses, increasing course provision, and building relationships and links with employers, educational institutions and other
Monday, February 25, 2019Dublin Airport Welcomes New Direct Service to China’s Tech Hub Shenzhen
Dublin Airport Welcomes New Direct Service to China’s Tech Hub Shenzhen Dublin Airport welcomes today’s launch of Hainan Airlines’ new year-round direct service to Shenzhen. The airline will operate two flights per week between Dublin and Shenzhen, which is in south-eastern China. Shenzhen will be Dublin Airport’s second destination in mainland China, as Hainan already operates a Dublin-Beijing service. “We are delighted Hainan is expanding its network from Dublin by adding this second
Friday, February 22, 2019Bank of Ireland launches €2bn Brexit Fund
Bank of Ireland launches €2bn Brexit Fund Gavin Kelly, Retail Ireland CEO – “Brexit isn’t ‘business as usual’. We are here to support our customers flex, adapt and thrive.”Fund is available to help businesses across the island of Ireland Bank of Ireland has launched a €2bn Brexit Fund to help businesses across the island of Ireland prepare for the UK’s departure from the EU. The Bank will also run a series of nationwide Brexit events, aimed at small and medium enterprises, over the coming
Thursday, February 21, 2019Dublin Airport Hosts North Runway Jobs Initiative
Dublin Airport Hosts North Runway Jobs Initiative daa in partnership with Empower, the Fingal-based community development company, and the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, hosted a Meet the Contractor event to promote local job opportunities associated with Dublin Airport’s North Runway project. The event was held as part of Empower’s One Step Closer programme, which trains long-term jobseekers in skills where there are employment opportunities such as the construction of Dublin