Dear ,

Dublin Chamber is delighted to bring you this new year update on Dublin Chamber’s lobbying agenda and recent developments affecting businesses.

Before Christmas, Dublin Chamber was lobbying Government officials and elected representatives throughout the Dublin region to secure support for more investment in public transport and active travel infrastructure, and to highlight the various challenges which continue to face Dublin businesses due to Covid-19 and its consequences.

As a new year begins, we are delighted to announce Dublin City Chief Executive Owen Keegan as the first guest in our 2022 series of policy briefings. You can book here now or read further details below. Mr. Keegan’s presentation to Chamber members will be very timely, coming as Dublin City Council publishes its Draft Development Plan for 2022-2028, which will shape the growth of the City for the next six years. You can read more about the plan below. Be sure to tell us what you think and share your business feedback.

In the coming days, Dublin Chamber will also make our submission to the Commission on Welfare & Taxation on the long-term future of fiscal policy in Ireland. We argue that the Government risks repeating past mistakes by narrowing the tax base through over-reliance on income from higher earners. To ensure sustainability, tax reductions should be focused on specific goals like boosting entrepreneurship, supporting SME growth, and promoting green business practices.

Meanwhile, Dublin Chamber will be advancing our agenda on issues like water infrastructure, the Luas extension to Finglas, and the promotion of greater urban density. You can find out more below, including the latest Covid-19 protocols which come into effect today.

As always, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with your comments or concerns by contacting policy@dublinchamber.ie.

Regards,

Aebhric Mc Gibney
Director of Public & International Affairs

Join us at 12pm on Wednesday 26th January to hear from Dublin City Chief Executive Owen Keegan who will brief Chamber members on key development affecting businesses, and his strategic vision for the city in light of the changes wrought by Covid-19. Mr. Keegan’s presentation will be followed by an opportunity for audience Q&A. Register here.

As Chief Executive, Owen Keegan is responsible for the day-to-day operations of Dublin City Council, working with elected representatives, implementing Council decisions, and overseeing the creation of a new City Development Plan for 2022-2028. This briefing will be of interest to all businesses concerned about the future of our capital, whether located in Dublin City or elsewhere in the Dublin region.

Speaker Bio:
Owen P. Keegan was appointed Dublin City Chief Executive in September 2013, having served as County Manager of Dún Laoghaire – Rathdown County Council (DLR) from February 2006.

Mr. Keegan is from Dublin, and holds degrees in public administration, economics, and civil engineering. Before joining Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, he worked for Dublin City Council as Assistant City Manager and then Director of Traffic. Prior to October 1993, he worked as an economist for DKM Economic Consultants/Davy Stockbrokers. He has also worked for the ESRI, the Department of Finance, and the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government.

Dublin City Council has published its Draft Development Plan which, if adopted, will guide the development of the City from 2022-2028. This an important document that will impact on a wide range of issues including the shape and structure of the city, land use, housing, transport, the retail and commercial environment, culture, climate action and sustainability. You can access the plan’s various parts here, including an executive summary, and chapters covering different themes.

Dublin Chamber will be sharing the view of the business community with Dublin City Council, as we do with other Local Authorities in Dublin. It is important that we hear your business feedback. If you have comments, concerns, or observations about the draft, please email fergus@dublinchamber.ie by close of business on Friday 4th February. We look forward to hearing from you.

From today, Friday 14^th January, new rules on self-isolation and restriction of movement come into place to manage the spread of Covid-19, following advice from the CMO. Given the high levels of infection across the country, it is important that cases and close contacts continue to follow the public health advice. For a period of 10 days (including the 7 days self-isolation or restricted movements) all positive cases and close contacts are advised to:

• limit close contact with other people outside their household, especially in crowded, enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces
• wear an appropriate face mask/face covering in crowded, enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces and where they are in close contact with other people
• take an antigen test before entering crowded, enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces and prior to having close contact with other people from outside their household
• avoid contact with anyone who is at higher risk of severe illness if infected with COVID-19
• work from home unless it is essential to attend in person
• follow all public health protective measures

The period of restricted movements for close contacts applies from the date of last contact with a positive case if known or, if not, from the date of notification as a contact. Close contacts of any age who have recovered following Covid-19 detected by a PCR or antigen test carried out since 1 December 2021 are not required to restrict movements or test if asymptomatic. If they become symptomatic, they should immediately self-isolate, get tested and wear a mask as appropriate. You can read the details in full here.

Dublin Chamber has reaffirmed the business community’s support for public transport and active travel in its submission to the NTA on the Draft Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area. The Chamber is calling for a more ambitious approach to investment in the necessary infrastructure and the expediting of projects like MetroLink, Bus Connects, and the Greater Dublin Area Cycle Network. Moreover, it is important that the DART+ Tunnel and Orbital Luas projects are meaningfully progressed during the lifetime of the new Strategy. Given the very long lead-ins and delivery timelines for major infrastructure projects in Ireland, it would be a major mistake to wait until MetroLink is completed before even beginning preparatory work for these projects.

Dublin Chamber has also noted that the mode share of public transport is projected to increase only modestly over the two-decade horizon of the Strategy, and questioned why the Strategy provides for a slight decline in the share of walking. We call for shovel-ready projects to be progressed as soon as possible, and prioritisation of projects that will advance the 15-Minute City vision and help to reduce carbon emissions. You can read our submission in full here.

The DART+ South West project promises an electrified and more frequent rail service between Dublin city centre and Hazelhatch & Celbridge station while increasing capacity and reducing journey times for the non-electrified InterCity & Commuter services running along this line. With the preferred route published recently, Dublin Chamber has expressed the strong support of the business community and called upon local Councillors to support the project. However, it is important that future population growth is adequately considered, particularly in light of the ‘City Edge’ redevelopment which is planned in the Naas Road area. The preferred route will also be compatible with the future opening of new DART stations, and Dublin Chamber has called for works on these to be included in the current project. You can read our submission here.

The proposed extension of the Luas Green Line to Finglas has taken a step further with the publication of the Preferred Route based on feedback from businesses, citizens, and other stakeholders last year. You can read all about the project and its background here, including maps of the preferred route. As a strong advocate for public transport, Dublin Chamber supports the project and wants to ensure that it is progressed smoothly, with any potential issues highlighted in due time. Do you have feedback about the Preferred Route for Luas Finglas? If so, please email fergus@dublinchamber.ie by Monday 24^th January.