Budget will support those who get up early, Harris tells chamber event
Image 1 of 4
Suzanne McEvoy, president, Mullingar Chamber of Commerce, welcoming An Tánaiste and Minister for Finance, Simon Harris, TD, to the Mullingar Park Hotel for the Pre-Budget Breakfast Briefing on September 7 last.Image 2 of 4
There were more than 200 guests at the event.Image 3 of 4
Gemma Fay, Mullingar Chamber administrator, Orla Duncan, Cookie Web, and Mullingar Chamber board member; John O’Connell, Stephens Cooke, and Mullingar Chamber board member; Suzanne McEvoy, Mullingar Chamber president; An Tánaiste Simon Harris, TD; Lauren Gregory, office manager, Mullingar Chamber; Aaron Bohan, Ecolab, and Mullingar Chamber board member; Joe Oxley, Oxley Access, and Mullingar Chamber board member; and James Bourke, Mullingar Autos, and Mullingar Chamber board member.Image 4 of 4
Senator Aidan Davitt, Suzanne McEvoy, Mullingar Chamber president, and Patrick Beirne, chairman, Mergon Group.Mullingar Chamber of Commerce welcomed 200 guests to Mullingar Park Hotel for their pre-budget breakfast briefing including An Tánaiste and Minister for Finance, Simon Harris, TD.
Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke, TD, also attended and the event was sponsored by the Ardonagh Group.
Suzanne McEvoy, president of Mullingar Chamber, welcomed the ministers and guests: “Mullingar and the midlands are the centre of this country, and a centre for excellence. Looking around this room, I see representatives from so many thriving businesses, and with our recent Leinster title and Rose of Tralee victory, we know we’re firmly on the map.
“I hope the government will support business in this next budget, and that this morning we may gain some insight into the road ahead.”
A Q&A session, hosted by MC Ronan Berry alongside Suzanne, then put a series of questions from chamber members to An Tánaiste.
Minister Harris said this year’s budget would support people “who get up early every morning and go to work”. That remark made national headlines in the days that followed, putting Mullingar and the Mullingar event at the centre of the national conversation on Budget 2027.
Among the questions put to Minister Harries, the impact of VAT and rising energy costs on local business was raised, along with the squeezed middle – the hardworking people who are not feeling the benefit of their efforts in their pockets despite the rising cost of living.
Other questions covered inheritance tax reform, the drive to attract further foreign direct investment to the midlands, protecting multinationals and the exchequer amid global economic uncertainty, and energy security in light of ongoing global conflict risk.
An Tánaiste also spoke about the new Personal Investment Account scheme, expected to be introduced by the middle of 2027, and set out plans to further reduce the cost of childcare.
The shortage of housing was also raised as a pressing issue, and local business people said they find it increasingly difficult to attract and retain staff who cannot find suitable accommodation in the area.
Minister Peter Burke addressed the local crowd directly, engaging with attendees on the issues facing business and enterprise here in the midlands.
Special guests on the day included An Cathaoirleach, Westmeath County Council, Cllr Bill Collentine, and Senator Aidan Davitt, and other guests representing the county council.
Commenting after the event, Ms McEvoy said: “To have such a massive crowd speaks for itself. Our members and the wider business community here want to be heard ahead of this budget, and today they were.
"I want to thank An Tánaiste Simon Harris and Minister Peter Burke for taking the time to answer the questions put to them. Thanks also to Ronan Berry for hosting the morning so well, and to the Ardonagh Group for their sponsorship, without which this event would not have been possible.”