Dublin Chamber Newsletter August

DUBLIN BUSINESS connecting | influencing

August 2009

influencing decisions...

Dear Fellow Member, LITTLE DID I think when I set upon my presidential journey

back in 2005 that we were shortly to witness the most dramatic economic upheaval of our lifetime. Companies have sought to adapt swiftly to the new business environment, focusing on cutting costs, cash-flow management, and business reorganisation. The Chamber has sought to help companies adapt by providing more opportunities for business development and by firmly putting the enterprise agenda to the Government. Networking

Attendance at Chamber functions has reached record levels, with over 3,300 attendances at the 50 or so Chamber events held so far this year. If you want to make the most of these opportunities for personal and business development, the Chamber runs regular free courses on how to improve your networking skills. The calendar for the remainder of 2009 has even more opportunities for you. This year’s Annual Dinner in October will be addressed by Denis O’Brien and by Minister Brian Lenihan TD. In September, the Chamber is organising a half day digital media networking event, entitled ‘Digital Media as a Profitable Business Tool’, which will bring together leading companies – including Google, Facebook, Bord Gáis Energy, IBM and AOL Technologies – in this new media channel. Network + Getwork

Ireland’s recovery will be driven by its ability to sell goods and services for export. Members are increasingly using both the ‘Network + Getwork’ and the ‘Enterprise Europe Network’ programmes to develop business relationships and knowledge across the island of Ireland and internationally. The ‘meet the buyer’ events in the ‘Network + Getwork’ have been particularly successful for businesses selling or buying on an all-Ireland basis. Going Online

Members exchanging business cards at events has been the usual way to develop their contacts, and now the Chamber’s use of the online business network, LinkedIn, is supplementing this activity. Over 400 of you have joined the Chamber’s LinkedIn Group in the past few months and your constant activity on the site is tremendous. In addition to providing greater personal details, members are sharing expertise, insight and access to their wider contact network enabling you to have an edge over your competitors. A number of member only and transactional online services will be launched in the autumn as part of our online strategy.

(R-L) Dublin Chamber President, PJ Timmins, welcomes Minister for Finance, Brian Lenihan TD, and Simon Wainwright, CEO HSBC Ireland, to Chamber Dinner in Camera.

Influencing

Before I took office in February, the Chamber sought your input on the top influencing priorities for 2009. Your priorities were ‘reducing costs’ and ‘managing cash-flow’, while you expected the Government to ‘manage public finances’ and ‘stimulate consumer confidence’. The Taoiseach responded to our call with a rousing speech at our AGM dinner. We have sought to hold the Taoiseach and the Government to these words, to make sure that they are translated into actions that would help your business, however much remains to be done. Reducing Costs The Chamber is running an intensive and ongoing campaign this year to reduce business rates costs, with elected councillors, Mayors and officials. Businesses are reducing costs across the board and local authorities must ensure their contribution to this national competitiveness drive. Energy costs in Ireland remain one of the most expensive in Europe, even after the Chamber’s campaign to reduce prices yielded a ten per cent reduction in March. Therefore, this campaign will continue until Irish prices for energy are in line with our European competitors. Cash-Flow

The Chamber has also sought and gained from Government departments a commitment to pay all their bills to suppliers within 15 days of their invoicing. We have yet to gain a similar commitment from

Dublin Chamber of Commerce, 7 Clare Street, Dublin 2. Tel: (01) 644 7200; Fax: (01) 676 6043

BUSINESS IRELAND

DUBLIN BUSINESS connecting - influencing

autumn 2005

influencing decisions... other Government agencies to agree the same standards. The Chamber is now working to address these issues through the Government’s Credit Supply Clearing Group, ensuring that your concerns are addressed, particularly with regard to the issue of redundancy rebates. Manage Public Finances

The Chamber has called on the Government to set a target of reducing total public spending to 34 per cent GDP in five years. A plan to right size government is a critical step for a small open economy like Ireland to recover our competitive position in the globe. Since 2000, the Chamber has campaigned for leadership and connected thinking across the Dublin Region through the creation of a directly elected Mayor for Dublin. Minister Gormley’s recent announcement of a directly elected Mayor for Dublin by 2010, with real executive powers, is a step toward greater efficiency, transparency and accountability.

The Chamber believes that it is essential that the Government continues to invest in Dublin’s infrastructure and transport systems. This will ensure that the Dublin City Region will be competitively placed to attract investment when the business cycle turns positive once again. As the voice of Dublin business, the Chamber will continue to work on your behalf with national and local government and create a space for you to meet other businesses. I’d like to thank you all for your excellent contributions over the first half of this year. Whether it was in responding to an online survey, which has enabled us to quantify to Ministers and their officials your views, or attending the Chamber’s growing networking event schedule, it is because of you that the Dublin Chamber will have its biggest year ever. I’m looking forward to an even greater second half of the year and hope you will continue the valuable support that you give to the Chamber. Warmest Regards,

Stimulate Consumer Confidence

At the start of this year, the Chamber called on the Government to set out a five year National Recovery Plan that indicates how the Government will create the environment where lost productivity will be restored, competitiveness regained, and future growth in output and employment sustained. Certainty on how the Government will respond is essential for business and consumer confidence.

PJ Timmins President

College Green Bus Corridor

Commercial Rates Freeze – Step in the Right Direction

Dublin City Council have put in place a bus corridor, which will limit the area around College Green to buses, taxis and cyclists during the rush hour period. Dublin Chamber successfully lobbied on your behalf to ensure that this was not a blanket ban. The bus corridor operates between 7am and 10am, and 4pm and 7pm, Monday to Friday. The amended plan for a College Green Bus Corridor provides faster and more reliable public transport, and will allow more commuters to switch from their cars. Dublin Chamber will participate in a review of the programme by the Dublin City Council in six months.

A concerted campaign by the Dublin Chamber brought the issue of uncompetitive commercial rate hikes by Dublin’s local councils to newly elected Councillors. Commercial rates are the single biggest issue that local Councillors control. A survey of Dublin Chamber’s members found that one in three businesses would look to offset any increase in rates by reducing their labour costs further. This was presented to newly elected Lord Mayor of Dublin, Cllr Emer Costello, and Mayor of Fingal, Ciaran Byrne. Dublin Chamber is engaging with councils to ensure that at a minimum business get a freeze in commercial rates, as guaranteed by some political parties to Dublin Chamber.

Mayor for Dublin Coming Ahead of Schedule

Minister Gormley is bringing forward plans for a directly elected mayor for Dublin. In May of this year, the Minister announced that he was bringing forward plans by a year with an election to be held in 2010. In a briefing with Dublin Chamber, it was said that the Mayor will have responsibility for establishing strategic policy in relation to land-use planning, waste management, water services, and housing across the four major Dublin local authorities. The Mayor will also be chair of the Dublin Transport Authority. Dublin Chamber has long championed the need for better regional governance and a directly elected mayor with real executive powers.

Late Payments by Government

On 20 May, the Tánaiste announced that the Government has committed to paying all of its bills to suppliers within 15 days of their invoicing in a bid to help ease the cash flow crisis facing Irish businesses. This announcement follows Dublin Chamber’s meeting with the Office of the Taoiseach in April; at this meeting the Chamber shared a member survey of late payments by Government bodies. The 15-day payment rule came into force from 15 June 2009.

Members interested in any of the above Dublin Chamber campaigns should contact a member of the Dublin Chamber policy team Aebhric McGibney, Policy Director ([email protected]); Patrick King ([email protected]); or Catherine McCabe ([email protected]).

Dublin Chamber of Commerce, 7 Clare Street, Dublin 2. Tel: (01) 644 7200; Fax: (01) 676 6043

BUSINESS IRELAND

DUBLIN BUSINESS connecting - influencing

autumn 2005

connecting business... Business Briefing with Stephen J Felice, Dell

Dinner in Camera with Patrick Coverny, Greencore

Left: Gina Quin, Chief Executive, Dublin

Alan Duffy, Head of Corporate Banking Ireland, HSBC;

Chamber, and Stephen

Patrick Coveney, CEO, Greencore; and PJ Timmins, Dublin

J Felice, President,

Chamber President, holding the official British and Irish Lions

Small and Medium

South African Tour Jersey.

Business, Dell. Below: Stephen J Felice, President, Small and

“the entreprenEUr – Ireland’s success in Europe”

Medium Business, Dell, and Frank Corr, CEO, ProData Consult Ireland.

Michael Shelly, Director, PM Group; Micheál Martin TD, Minister for Foreign Affairs; Peter Brennan, Vice President, Dublin Chamber; and Francis Jacobs, Head of the European Parliament Information Office in Ireland. The Dublin Chamber of Commerce wish to acknowledge the assistance of the DFA and the Communicating Europe Initiative.

Thursday 3 September (7.30-9am)

Wednesday 9 September (6-8pm)

Wednesday 16 September (7.30-9am)

Business Breakfast with John Kennedy, Managing Director, Diageo Ireland Kindly Sponsored by Diageo Venue: The Guinness Storehouse, St James’ Gate, D8 Cost: €45.00 Contact Maire Walsh to register.

Business After Hours at Ulster Bank, Georges Quay, D2 Kindly Hosted by Ulster Bank This event is complimentary to Chamber members but registration is compulsory Contact Maire Walsh to register.

Business Breakfast with Michael Cheika, Head Coach, Leinster Rugby In association with Leinster Rugby Venue: The Burlington Hotel Cost: €45.00 (for Dublin Chamber Members and Leinster Season Ticket Holders) Contact Maire Walsh to register.

Wednesday 16 September (12-1.30pm)

Thursday 8 October (7.30-9am)

Thursday 15 October (from 7pm)

Speed Networking Lunch at Regus, Pembroke House, 28-32 Upper Pembroke Street, Dublin 2 Kindly hosted By Regus This event is complimentary to Chamber members but registration is compulsory. Places are limted to one per company Contact Maire Walsh to register.

Business Breakfast with John Atherton, Managing Director, McDonalds Kindly Sponsored by Vodafone Venue: The Burlington Hotel Cost: €45.00 Contact Maire Walsh to register.

Annual Dinner 2009 - only 100 places remaining with Denis O’Brien, Director, Communicorp, and Brian Lenihan TD, Minister for Finance Kindly Sponsored by AIB Venue: The Burlington Hotel Cost: €180.00 per person or €2160.00 per table of 12 Contact Ciara Duncan to register.

Dublin Chamber of Commerce, 7 Clare Street, Dublin 2. Tel: (01) 644 7200; Fax: (01) 676 6043