Confidence in Cork’s bright future continues to drive FDI and indigenous investment in city
–Cork’s future as lighthouse city for FDI and indigenous investment mapped out at 204th Cork Chamber AGM– An era of exciting change ahead for Cork was conveyed at the 204th Cork Chamber AGM at the Imperial Hotel. Addressing assembled members on the evening Cork Chamber President, Ronan Murray spoke about the resilience of Cork businesses in the face of uncertainty created by war on our continent, energy prices and wider inflation. “Our members sought to embrace sustainability through energy efficiency
Offshore Wind Auction a Major Step Forward for Ireland’s renewables development, says Cork Chamber
Cork Chamber, the voice of business in Cork, has welcomed the outcome of Ireland’s first offshore wind auction as a major step forward for offshore wind development in Ireland. “Ireland’s first offshore wind auction last week was a real step forward, with the auction held on time and delivering competitive prices in the context of it being Ireland’s first offshore auction. This sends a strong signal internationally that Ireland can deliver, and we look forward to these four projects moving ahead on
Chamber welcomes PepsiCo expansion
-Ambition of global investors must be matched to remain competitive internationally- Cork Chamber, the voice of business in Cork, has welcomed the €127m PepsiCo expansion which enhances its manufacturing capacity at the Little Island facility. “The €127m investment made by PepsiCo into its Little Island facility is very significant. PepsiCo have shown continued commitment to Cork as a place for business, recently installing, 4,500 solar panels to power its Carrigaline facility. PepsiCo is a long-time
New Housing Measures Fail To Address Challenges Businesses Are Facing
Cork Chamber has warned that a large cohort of the working population will still remain locked out of the housing market and more ambitious measures are needed to tackle the housing crisis which continues to negatively impact on investment and competitiveness. “The focus on cost-rental homes in this latest housing package by Government is well intentioned but lacks ambition and the conditions associated with obtaining these planned units will leave large sections of the workforce excluded,” said Conor
Cork Chamber Issues Fresh Call For New Incentives To Deliver Step Change In Housing Supply
Cork Chamber has today renewed its call for new measures including time-bound tax-based measures in response to the government’s Housing Commission consultation, to increase the delivery of housing as the impact of lack of supply and lack of progression continue to be felt on Leeside. “Following extensive lobbying efforts at the highest levels of Government over the past 18 months, 2023 began with promise, with affordable housing schemes and bodies given access to lower cost finance through government
Port of Cork Investment Must Be Secured To Seize Offshore Wind Opportunity
Unless investment in the Port of Cork is delivered Cork will be unable to emerge as a front runner in offshore wind energy, said Cork Chamber today, warning that although Cork has the potential to be a leader in offshore wind energy, other countries are working faster to get ahead. “The Port of Cork must receive the investment it needs to fully harness the benefits of its strategic location to become a major offshore wind centre. Its development is of vital importance to the entire economy with major
High energy costs lead to reduction in business profitability
- Confidence in the Irish economy remains high through changing business environment - Cork Chamber, the voice of business in Cork, has published its latest Economic Trends, proudly supported by Permanent TSB. Cork Chamber members shared their experiences through the most recent business quarter Q1 2023, their outlook for the second quarter of 2023 and views on the ongoing business impact of high energy costs and skills gaps. The Q1 2023 survey found: 73% of respondents are experiencing reduced
New timelines for delivery of offshore wind have to be met by Government, says Cork Chamber
The Government announcement of the acceleration of Phase 2 Offshore wind projects and the introduction of a new Phase 3 for 2GW of floating offshore wind provides some certainty but the timelines for delivery need to be met this time. “The Phase 1 auctions need to deliver the volume of projects needed to meet the majority of our 5GW target and the timelines for both Phase 2 DMAPS and for opening a specific route to market for floating offshore wind projects by Q1 2024 has to be delivered upon. In the
Cork can be EU leader in green hydrogen with production costs one of lowest in Europe, says Cork Chamber
Cork can be an EU leader in Green Hydrogen production with one of the lowest production costs in Europe, says Cork Chamber, based on the findings of a new study by Aurora Energy Research. “This report shows that Green Hydrogen production in Cork and Ireland is not only cost-competitive with other countries but will be cheaper than many locations, so we need to make sure we capitalise on that opportunity and get the industry off the ground here as soon as possible,” said Rory Kelleher, Director of
Broader supports for business welcomed by Cork Chamber
Cork Chamber, the voice of business in Cork has welcomed government’s expansion of the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme (TBESS) and extension of the 9% VAT rate for hospitality as part of the cost-of-living package. Commenting on the changes to the TBESS, Conor Healy Cork Chamber CEO said, “This is a very necessary move by government and will allow a greater number of businesses to benefit from the scheme. The reduction of the threshold for qualification from a 50% increase in electricity or
Major Cork road projects not moving fast enough, says Cork Chamber
Cork Chamber has warned that major road projects such as the M28 Cork to Ringaskiddy road and N25 are moving too slowly despite welcome funding announcements on the Macroom and Castleymartyr bypass. “The new Cork to Ringaskiddy road is critical to opening up the Docklands in Cork to housing development and enabling the port to move its operations completely to Ringaskiddy. This is a project that needs to be delivered by the end of 2026. Despite the welcome announcement of €19m for the N28 Cork to
Cork is on the cusp on fulfilling its true potential by being a cradle of innovation
- We have shown an outstanding ability to adapt and succeed, but to continue to do so, we must constantly innovate and continue to challenge ourselves - Cork is on the cusp of fulfilling its true potential by being a cradle of innovation but needs to constantly innovate to stay ahead in a rapidly changing global environment, said Cork Chamber president, said President of Cork Chamber, Ronan Murray at the Chamber’s Annual Dinner. “In the world we now live in, the pace of change is increasing.
Stryker win Cork Company of the Year 2023
-The world-leading medical device company employs over 4,000 people in Cork- Cork Chamber, the voice of business in Cork, has tonight announced Stryker as the overall winner of the Cork Company of the Year Awards 2023. Now in their 25th year, these awards, in association with Vodafone Ireland and media partner the Irish Examiner, recognise the diversity and vibrancy that exists in the Cork business community. There were four individual category awards presented at the ceremony which took place in City
New York at the top of businesses wish lists for direct routes from Cork Airport
New York is by far the most in-demand new direct destination from Cork Airport, according to a new survey conducted by Cork Chamber, the voice of business in Cork. The survey of Cork Chamber members, developed in cooperation with Cork Airport, asked businesses about their current travel patterns and future route preferences. The survey found: 86% of businesses stated that direct air access to Cork Airport is very important for overseas colleagues The Americas was the final destination for 75% of all
Confidence in the Irish Economy jumps to 66% at close of 2022
Skills and housing still bottlenecks for business expansion Cork Chamber, the voice of business in Cork, has published its latest Economic Trends, proudly supported by Permanent TSB. Cork Chamber members shared their experiences through the most recent business quarter Q4 2022, their outlook for the first quarter of 2023 and views on the ongoing business impact of rising energy costs and inflation to track business sentiment across quarter 3 and quarter 4 2022.The Q4 2022 survey found: 66% of
Fit for a new year – CAP 2023
Commenting on the latest iteration of the Climate Action Plan 2023 (CAP23), Cork Chamber, the voice of business in Cork welcomed the legally binding targets, increased ambition and an action-oriented approach which is essential to decarbonising industry and enterprise, reducing negative impacts on the environment and securing Ireland’s future competitiveness.Referencing today’s publication, Conor Healy, CEO of Cork Chamber said “The CAP23 has been much anticipated and offers the opportunity to guide,
Chamber welcomes Cabinet approval of Draft Planning and Development Bill
Cork Chamber has welcomed cabinet approval of the Draft Planning and Development Bill as a significant step on the urgent need to reform and streamline the planning system. “The current planning regime is hindering the development we need across housing, infrastructure and energy to support economic growth and build a sustainable net zero economy and society. Maintaining the status quo is not an option, and so the progress of this bill through Cabinet has to be welcomed as a step towards streamlining
Opening of Macroom bypass a big milestone, says Cork Chamber
Cork Chamber, the voice of business in Cork, has welcomed today’s opening by An Taoiseach Micheál Martin and the Mayor of County Cork, Cllr Danny Collins of the N22 Macroom bypass, representing a big milestone for the project. “It is great to see strategically important infrastructure projects like this progress representing a big milestone for the N22 project, Macroom and the Cork region. Great credit is due to Government, TII, Cork County Council, and all involved in progressing this new road,”
Cork Chamber Announces AIB as Annual Dinner Sponsor
Cork Chamber, the voice of business in Cork, has formed a new partnership with AIB. A long-standing member with over 200 years of interwoven history, AIB has been announced as the new official event sponsor of the Cork Chamber’s Annual Dinner. The dinner, which takes place in February is Cork Chamber’s flagship event and the largest business event in the region bringing together 1,000 business leaders, elected representatives and key national and regional stakeholders. Commenting on the announcement,
Apple’s Cathy Kearney Honoured with Outstanding Contribution to Business Award from Cork Chamber
Cork Chamber has tonight recognised Cathy Kearney, Apple VP of Operations for Europe, Middle East, India & Africa for her outstanding contribution to business. The award, now in its 12th year, was presented at the Cork Chamber Dublin Dinner. Attended by 600 leading political and business people in the Clayton Hotel Burlington Road, the dinner was sponsored by EY. Ms Kearney has been recognised for her exemplary career at Apple. Cork has been home to Apple for over 40 years and it serves as Apple’s
Cork City Heritage and Biodiversity Plan, welcomed by Cork Chamber
Cork Chamber, the voice of business in Cork, welcome’s today’s launch of the Cork City Heritage and Biodiversity Plan as a key step towards enhancing the attractiveness of Cork. “This five-year plan presents a key opportunity to promote and enhance the heritage and biodiversity of Cork, essential to our city region’s DNA and the quality of life of Corkonians. The importance of biodiversity cannot be overlooked, and this plan is a step towards communicating its value so that we can continue to
NetApp choosing Cork for its international headquarters a big win, says Cork Chamber
-500 new jobs a major step forward for the regeneration of the South Docks- Cork Chamber, the voice of business in Cork, welcomes the creation of 500 new jobs at NetApp’s offices and new international headquarters in Cork’s South Docks. “This is great news for Cork, attracting a global technology company to create 500 jobs, both technical and non-technical, here by 2025. NetApp’s decision shows Cork is the destination of choice for global technology companies. The outstanding talent pool and
Opportunity in crisis: Businesses proactive on energy efficiency in face of rising prices
Cork Chamber, the voice of business in Cork, has published its latest Economic Trends, proudly supported by Permanent TSB. Cork Chamber members shared their experiences through the most recent business quarter Q3 2022, their outlook for the fourth quarter 2022 and views on the impact of inflation, rising energy prices and measures to combat current challenges. The Q3 2022 survey found:92% of businesses are concerned or very concerned about the impact of rising energy cost24% have identified energy
Cork Chamber welcomes opening of new €30 million GE Healthcare manufacturing line at Cork plant
Cork Chamber, the voice of business in Cork, warmly welcomes the opening of a new manufacturing line and 140 new jobs by GE Healthcare at its Carrigtwohill facility in Cork following a €30 million investment. “This investment and the jobs created by GE Healthcare is great news for Cork. It’s another major investment by a global leader in the life sciences sector in Cork and shows that we continue to be the investment destination of choice for the global life sciences and pharmaceutical industry,” said
Launch of Cork Container Terminal a big step forward for Cork, says Chamber
Cork Chamber, the voice of business in Cork, said the launch of the Port of Cork Company’s new 13.5-hectare Cork Container Terminal in Ringaskiddy represents a big step forward for Cork and the Port of Cork. “Congratulations to all the team involved. This new strategic terminal will offer greater efficiencies, in fact the highest of any European port thus demonstrating the global nature of our region when it comes to international trade, connectivity and innovation,” said Ronan Murray, President of
Stryker Expansion Strengthening its Ties to Cork
Cork Chamber, the voice of business in Cork, has welcomed the official opening of the new Stryker facility at Anngrove, Carrigtwohill. “The investment made by Stryker in Carrigtwohill is very significant for the region. With the capacity to provide a further 600 jobs at this newly expanded, state of the art facility, Stryker have shown their continued commitment to the region as an excellent location for their global additive technology research and development,” said Conor Healy, CEO, Cork
Government must ensure joined up thinking to reach emissions targets
Cork Chamber, the voice of business in Cork, has welcomed government’s agreement on Sectoral Emissions Ceilings as a step in the right direction toward achieving Ireland’s legally binding economy-wide Carbon Budgets. “The climate crisis is one of the defining challenges of our time. We must be unrelenting in our determination to change the trajectory of this crisis.’’ commented Conor Healy, CEO of Cork Chamber. “If we are to achieve our goals of halving our greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and
