Leadership

Irish European Chamber launched at Lisbon event

11.09.2009
Representatives from the Irish-European business world were in attendance at a Lisbon Treaty event yesterday, which also saw the launch of a new European Chamber of Ireland.

The new chamber, which was formed from 14 European bilateral trade organisations and institutions representing 15 countries, was officially launched at a Lisbon Treaty Business Lunch in the RDS Concert Hall yesterday.

The event was attended by 22 European Ambassadors, 290 representatives from the Irish-European business community, as well as representatives from Irish professional bodies such as IBEC, IDA, the IIEA and the Irish Exporters Association.

“This European Chamber will certainly give the Irish-European business community a well-deserved stronger voice in Ireland,” commented the Minister for Foreign Affairs Michéal Martin TD, who was also in attendance.

Margot Wallström (pictured), Vice President of the European Commission responsible for Institutional Relations and Communication Strategy, also addressed the event with a speech entitled ‘Facing the economic crisis together – Ireland and the EU’.

The perspective of Irish companies and in particular of international building materials group CRH was the focus of CRH’s Jack Golden, who also spoke at the event.

He emphasised the need for the business community in Ireland to campaign actively for a Yes vote to ensure Ireland continues to enjoy the economic and social benefits brought about by Irish membership of the EU.

“These benefits include jobs, strong competition legislation, consumer protection and a whole set of standards for treating people fairly in the workplace. Employers and employees alike need the EU to work efficiently to create and sustain jobs in a competitive world economy. Crucially, there is no change in the area of taxation and the treaty gives legal status to the Charter of Fundamental Rights”.

Golden said he believed that failure to ratify the Lisbon Treaty would have serious and lasting consequences for the Irish economy and he urged everyone who wishes to see Ireland prosper to actively back the Yes campaign.

Pictured: Margot Wallström, Vice President of the European Commission responsible for Institutional Relations and Communication Strategy