Chamber events for employers, and election candidates

Mullingar Chamber of Commerce are hosting two events this week: a briefing for employers tomorrow, Tuesday, and a debate for local election candidates on Wednesday.

The Department of Social Protection join the chamber for the breakfast briefing tomorrow Tuesday May 13 in the Greville Arms. Chamber president Pat Whelan said: “The event is an opportunity for the business community of the town to hear the support that is available to employers, including recruitment support and the JobBridge and JobPlus schemes.”

There will also be an update on recent developments in employment law. Speakers on the morning include Des Henry, DSP divisional manager, Midlands-North, Aidan Mullally, DSP JobsIreland, and Marguerite Buckley from Buckley and Co, Solicitors, a Mullingar firm.

“The Department of Social Protection has a vast array of supports in place to help employers to employ.

“This breakfast meeting will highlight the many advantages and opportunities there are to help get people back in the workplace and how the business community can work to bring that about,” said Mr Whelan, going on to add that Mullingar Chamber is committed to building a vibrant business community in the town and is also committed to all of the people living in the town.

“Fostering effective communications between the Department of Social Protection and businesses and employers is crucial and this Breakfast Briefing is a brilliant way to bring that about,” Mr Whelan concluded.

This Wednesday, at 8pm the local election candidates will debate the issues facing the Mullingar business community in an event organised by Mullingar Camber of Commerce.

“The business community remains the largest single source of funding for local authorities throughout Ireland. Mullingar Chamber is calling on all local election candidates to recognise both this vital contribution and the importance of the SME sector to local employment,” said Pat Whelan, chamber president.

“This debate will offer candidates an opportunity to show people they understand the pressures and challenges facing our members and are prepared to support them and help work with them in addressing their needs.

“Mullingar Chamber actively supports the local government reform and has lobbied for a rationalised and streamlined system to achieve a more effective and efficient model. The chamber also supported the introduction of a Local Property Tax (LPT) to ensure a sustainable funding model for local government.

“Local government needs to works with and for the local business community. The chamber would like to see policies in place that reduce the cost of doing business and create new jobs. This debate will give us a chance to hear from candidates how they believe this can be achieved.”

Keep the town centre in focus

Mr Whelan said that Mullingar Chamber believes the town centre should remain the focus for locating retail and appropriate business development and that car parking rates should not be a disincentive for people to shop, socialise and engage with business.

“Tourism is crucial and the local authority must ensure that the next Rural Development Programme is extended to Mullingar and used to benefit this once-great market town.

“I also believe a councillor’s role includes encouraging local authorities to introduce procurement policies that are not based solely on lowest pricing but also take into account incentivising innovation, supporting local business and job creation for the area, and I would extend that line of thought to say that money raised by the local property tax should be retained by local authorities and spent on local services.”

These elections come at an important time as they are the first opportunity for the public to influence the newly reformed system of local government, he believes.

“Mullingar Chamber recognises the importance of local government and valued the work of our councillors. We have worked hard to foster an effective relationship between the chamber and Westmeath County Council and this debate will offer candidates the chance to put forward their vision for the future and the role they intend to play.”

The debate kicks of at 8pm in the parish community centre. All are welcome to attend.