Q1 Business Outlook Survey Results

This month, Dublin Chamber met with Louise O’Reilly TD and Eoin O’ Broin TD to discuss the results of the Q1 Business Outlook Survey. Discussions were centred around the issue of housing which remains the foremost concern for Dublin businesses, topping both election (73%) and budget (83%) priority lists for the year ahead. Dublin Chamber highlighted that almost two-in-three firms (62%) reported losing employees or having prospective employees not take a job due to the lack of affordable housing. Additionally, three-in-ten businesses (30%) have had to subsidise or provide accommodation for employees. Dublin Chamber pointed out that this is unsustainable and could harm Dublin’s competitiveness as a business hub. Dublin Chamber has sent the results of its Q1 Business Outlook Survey to all Dublin TDs, Senators, Councillors and Ministers, amongst other key stakeholders, and will continue to effectively communicate the survey’s findings and advocate for the needs of Dublin businesses.  

 

Meeting with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

At the beginning of the month, Dublin Chamber met with DETE to inform the department’s new initiative that aims to increase the take up of grants and schemes pertaining to decarbonisation. This working group will meet monthly to discuss business community’s relationship with supports particularly SMEs, who have limited time and resources to engage with these supports.

 

European Election Hustings

Dublin Chamber also continued the European debate this month with Dublin MEP candidates, Barry Andrews MEP, Ciarán Cuffe MEP, Senator Regina Doherty, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin TD, Sinéad Gibney and Clare Daly MEP, all of whom participated in the Chamber’s European Election Hustings. Dublin Chamber highlighted critical issues confronting Dublin businesses including housing, infrastructure, sustainability, and safety, and urged candidates to prioritise these concerns. Dublin Chamber will continue its engagement with these candidates to ensure that Dublin’s business interests are effectively represented in Brussels and Strasbourg.

 

Policy Council Meeting

May marked the second meeting for Dublin Chamber’s policy council, who convened to reaffirm strategic priorities for the year and receive updates from Dublin Chamber’s Taskforce groups. Topics of discussion included Dublin Chamber’s formal response to issues around retrofitting, as well as the Right to Request Remote Work and Workplace Relations Commission’s Code of Practice. Both lobbying responses are currently being drafted and will be sent to members of Government this month.

 

Meeting with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform

This month, Kevin Meaney, Principal Officer at the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform met with the Chamber to discuss capital allocations under his department in the leadup to Budget 2025. This capital is extremely important for the development of sustainable infrastructure and for increasing the supply of affordable housing in the GDA. During this meeting, Dublin Chamber’s budget priorities were outlinednand the National Planning Framework reflected upon, which Dublin Chamber submitted on last year on the basis that commuter towns of Dublin are not full, adding that capital investment should follow population growth which is Dublin and its hinterland.

 

Directly Elected Mayor Debate

Last week, Dublin Chamber participated in ULI Ireland’s Directly Elected Mayor debate, alongside Berti Ahern, former Taoiseach and Lord Mayor of Dublin, AnnMarie Farrelly, CEO Fingal County Council and Richard Shakespeare, CEO Dublin City Council, amongst others. Dublin Chamber took a nuanced approach to the establishment of a directly elected mayor for Dublin, emphasising the importance of the powers of the role, not the title. Dublin Chamber and its membership believe that such a figure would be instrumental in driving Dublin’s future economic growth, if the office was delegated the correct powers by central government. By overseeing the planning and implementation of key infrastructure, ensuring that revenue raised in Dublin is retained locally and spent on services and capital projects, and facilitating more coordinated policymaking between the four local authorities, a directly elected mayor would serve as a catalyst for the City’s prosperity. Read more on Dublin Chamber’s position here.

 

National Economic Dialogue

This week, Dublin Chamber attended the National Economic Dialogue attended by a long list of ministers including Ministers Micheal McGrath, Pascal Donohoe and Eamonn Ryan, who outlined their budget overview amid Budget 2025 preparations.