Chamber to lobby Tánaiste on costs
Cork Chamber chiefs will highlight issues of concern to the business community in the city to Tánaiste and Minister for Justice Michael McDowell on Friday.
Top of the agenda will be the rising costs of fuel, the Cork Airport debt, local authority rates and water charges, uncompleted local road projects, policing and the development of Cork port.
Chamber chief Conor Healy told the Evening Echo that one of the key areas up for discussion will be competitiveness which, he said, is now affecting all areas of business.
“One is the continued increase in utility charges — gas and electricity hikes — which is affecting every business,” said Mr Healy.
Linked to the battle to stay competitive were rising water charges and local authority rates, he said.
“Both of these are often well ahead of inflation.
“The business community are the only people paying water charges at the moment.”
On the development of the port, Mr Healy said there was a huge opportunity to expand the docklands and create almost a second city in Cork with the establishment of financial services, educational centres and new industry.
He said: “We want to set up an alternative to Dublin and Cork should be top of the list for the scaling-up of a new harbour development.”
Mr Healy called for central funds to be allocated to the stalled Bandon Road and Sarsfield Road flyover roundabouts.
He said: “The two roundabouts need to be done.”
On the long-running saga of Cork Airport’s mounting €180m debt, Mr Healy and Chamber president Roger Flack will press Minister McDowell to urge the Government to let airport management know its financial position, as this is hampering development.
He said: “The airport is not in a position to plan for the future as there is no clarity on its financial position. There was a commitment from the Government that there would be no debt and we are looking for that commitment to be honoured.”
Mr Healy added that, since the Tánaiste also carried the Justice portfolio, the Chamber would make representation for higher garda visibility on the ground to protect businesses and the safety of customers, especially at night time.
“There is also a need for continued investment in CCTV,” he said.
