Implications of Brexit for Ireland to be discussed by high-powered business leaders at a special forum
Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Fingal to host important BREXIT BREAKFAST as part of Local Enterprise Week
The implications and challenges of Brexit for Irish business are to be teased out at a high-level forum organized by Local Enterprise Office Fingal as part of Local Enterprise Week.
The special Brexit breakfast, which takes place in Dublin on Tuesday, March 7th, will feature insights from leading economic thinkers who will share their insights on the currency risk, export challenges and opportunities that Brexit presents.
Joining what promises to be a lively panel discussion will be Enterprise Ireland CEO, Julie Sinnamon; Director of the Small Firms Association, Patricia Callan; Director General of the British Irish Chamber, John McGrane; Partner in EY, Simon MacAllister and ESRI economist, Dr Edgar Morgenroth.
The panel will also comprise successful business leaders Anne Reilly, CEO of PaycheckPlus, and Stephen Malone, CEO of Malone Group, who will talk about how Brexit is already impacting on their companies which do a lot of business in the UK.
The event is organised by Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Fingal and is being run as a Dublin regional event as part of Local Enterprise Week, which takes place from March 5th – 10th.
170 delegates, the vast majority of small business owners from the Dublin region, are expected to attend the event.
Hosted by Ian Guider, Markets Editor of the Sunday Business Post, the forum will include plenty of opportunities for attendees to ask questions of the panel from the floor.
This is the first in a series of initiatives that Fingal LEO will be rolling out this year and beyond to help SMEs prepare and plan for the impact of Brexit.
Julie Sinnamon, CEO of Enterprise Ireland, said:
“While we await the outcome of negotiations between the EU and UK, Enterprise Ireland is strongly encouraging its client companies to prepare for a hard Brexit. Strengthening the competitiveness of Irish industry through innovation and greater efficiency in operations, while developing the ability to expand market reach, is at the heart of Enterprise Ireland’s new four-year strategy, Build Scale, Expand Reach. We have set ambitious targets for our client companies, and we will support them fully as they roll out plans to mitigate risk, grasp new opportunities and achieve global ambition.”
Simon MacAllister, a partner with EY, said: “The implications of Brexit continues to be a source of uncertainty for business. While there are many areas of potential disruption there will also be opportunities. But the challenges and opportunities will remain quite unclear until the EU/UK negotiations get underway.”
According to Oisin Geoghegan, Head of Enterprise, Local Enterprise Office, Fingal, the event is a very important one on the calendar of small businesses in the region. “This is the first in a series of events and measures Local Enterprise Office Fingal is planning as Irish companies prepare for Brexit. We will be putting resources in place over the next year to help companies identify opportunities and to diversify into other markets. There is a lot of fear around Brexit and it is important that business owners are briefed on both the threats and the opportunities that it presents. LEO Fingal is here to give advice and to guide businesses as they prepare for the post-Brexit period.”
Paul Reid, Chief Executive, Fingal County Council said: “The interest shown by the Fingal business community in the recent visit by the British Ambassador to the county demonstrated how seriously they are taking Brexit. This event, with its wide range of speakers, will assist them further in their planning.”
The event is expected to be a sell-out with strong interest already expressed from businesses.
What: Brexit: The Real Implications for Business in Ireland
When: Tuesday 7th March 2017
Time: 07.30 a.m - 09.30 a.m
Where: Carlton Hotel Dublin Airport, Old Airport Road, Cloghran, Co. Dublin
There is a nominal fee of €10 on booking. Breakfast is included. To book go to https://www.localenterprise.ie/Fingal/Training-Events/Online-Bookings/Fingal-Enterprise-Week-2017/Brexit-The-Real-Implications-for-Business-in-Ireland-Tuesday-7th-March-2017.html