Sinn Féin Mayor Puts Proposals to Navan Chamber of Commerce
Mayor of Navan, Joe Reilly, used the Chamber of Commerce Ball to put forward a series of proposals to get Meath back to work and back in business. The Sinn Féin Mayor said that there is no better educator than adversity and that all interested parties must work together to improve the local economic climate.
Mayor Reilly said “We are all too aware of the economic difficulties that we are in and that we face testing times in the years ahead. However there is no better educator than adversity. Rather than dwell on the negative, I would rather look forward and inform you of a series of proposals that we believe would help to get Navan and Meath back to work and back into business.
“These proposals include the construction of a new Navan Business Incubation Centre, the development of Boyne Valley Walk, Hot Desks, delivery of a Navan Retail Strategy, the re-branding of Navan and Meath as a sustainable high technical location and the development of Community Education Programmes that prepares people for further education, work and up-skilling.
“In conclusion, in order to help Navan out of the crisis we are in we must work together. I want to offer my services, in the role of Mayor, to help facilitate both the Chamber of Commerce and Navan Town Council in delivering for the town.”
Address by Cllr Joe Reilly Mayor of Navan to the Chambers of Commerce Annual Ball.
Ardboyne Hotel Sat Nov 14th
Madam President
Thank you for your kind invite to the Chamber of Commerce Annual Ball.
The occasion is an unusual one for me but I welcome the opportunity, as Sinn Féin Mayor, to address you as business leaders in the town.
We are all too aware of the economic difficulties that we are in and that we face testing times in the years ahead.
However there is no better educator than adversity.
Rather than dwell on the negative, I would rather look forward and inform you of a series of proposals that we believe would help to get Navan and Meath back to work and back into business.
Cllr Peadar Toibin and I have been working on a number of initiatives and formulating proposals in the different forums that we work within at local level.
These proposals include the construction of a new Navan Business Incubation Centre, the development of Boyne Valley Walk, Hot Desks, delivery of a Navan Retail Strategy, the re-branding of Navan and Meath as a sustainable high technical location and the development of Community Education Programmes that prepares people for further education, work and up-skilling.
But to highlight the size of the challenge ahead – some statistics:
· The rate of unemployment in Meath is higher than any other county
· 50% of working people in Meath, work outside the county
· 40% of Meath people shop outside the county
· Meath receives less funding from Enterprise Ireland than any other comparable county.
· Meath receives just a seventh of what Louth gets
· Meath is the last remaining Leinster county to get a Motorway and Rail connection.
Navan Business Incubation Centre
As a member of the Board of Navan Enterprise Centre I have proposed the development of a new Enterprise Centre for those wishing to start their own business. This proposal is presently awaiting a report for its next meeting. Navan Enterprise Centre is best placed, as a organisation committed to delivering new opportunities for our young people wishing to start their own business. As a company and in conjunction with Meath Co Council we can deliver such an enterprise
Boyne Valley Walk
The biggest growth in global tourism in recent years has been in the area of historical or cultural walks. Navan and Meath can ensure we are part of that global growth. Sinn Fein have recently put forward a proposal to the Council to develop a Boyne River Walk. Sometimes we don’t see what we have because it is right under our noses. The Boyne is lined with hundreds of the finest historical monuments in Ireland. Trim Castle, Bective Abbey, Tara, Donaghmore, Slane Castle, Newgrange and the Battle of the Boyne site. Many of these sites are world renowned.
For tourists Meath is a day trip. Our proposal would make overnight stays a necessity – greatly increasing demand for hotels, B&Bs, restaurants and retailers. The Inca Trail and the El Comino de Santiago de Compostela could be joined by the Boyne Valley Walk.
M3 Motorway Opening
Mid 2010 the New M3 will open. This will bring huge changes to the town. Changes that will create new opportunities if we are in a position to identify and grasp them, I have proposed to Navan Town Council the formation of the Strategic Committee consisting of the Navan Town Council and the key stakeholders in Navan. This forum would ensure that as a town we would make the maximum gains possible from a development that is going to change the face of Navan in the coming years.. This proposal has been accepted by the Manager. The importance of the work requires this forum to meet in the very near future.
Navan Retail Strategy
Over the last two years Navan retailers have taken a hammering. There is a double whammy of reduced disposable income and increasing exchange rates and tax differentials across the border. Relying on ‘partitioned patriotic duty’ is not the answer.
Simple economics should tell the Minister for Finance that he may as well try and hold back the sea,that money will chase cheaper products and the only way to offer a level playing field is to get rid of the artificial differentials created by the border. What is required is tax rates across the island to be equalized and the North brought into the Euro Zone. The economic alternative is currency fluctuations, shop closures and job losses on both sides of the border.
A Retail Edge Programme.
At Navan Town Council we will shortly be proposing to the Executive and our councilor colleagues a number of retail initiatives that we believe would be supportative of the retail sector in the present difficult circumstances.
They are:
· Navan Town Council and Enterprise Board working with retailers to promote strengths and improve weaknesses with their outlets:
· Merchandisers that would advise on optimum shop layout, product positioning and window design. In addition training could be provided to improve sales skills.
· Shop Front Upgrade Scheme. Meath County Council and Navan Town Council to provide a grant to shop owners to improve signage and paint shop fronts. Maintaining an attractive shopping environment is crucial, particularly if some retail units are sitting empty.
· Business Internet Scheme. The internet and social media tools offer businesses new and exciting ways to sell and market to the world. Each retailer in Meath would be afforded the opportunity for professional training and the development of a web presence.
· Pedestrianisation of centre of town on a pilot scheme basis.
· The building of a Pride of Place among the retailers and business community to build a town that is an attractive for the locals and visiting public
· There are scores of challenges we can take up that would improve and generates business and community spirits. Initiatives that don’t always cost money. Initiatives such as support for the St Patrick’s Day Parade, the Summer Fest, Solstice Arts Centre etc. Such involvement by people and organizations lift the spirit of the people, create a better town and creates economy activity.
We all have our own ideas as to how the present crisis should be dealt with. But we live work and play in Navan as do our families and friends. Let us look in a new and imaginative way as to how we can help ourselves.
Conclusion
In conclusion I want to acknowledge that relationships between the Chamber and the local authority and councilors have been strained in recent times. I welcome the announcement that they will be in a position to support the Christmas Lighting in the town.
In order to help Navan out of the crisis we are in we must work together. I want to offer my services, in the role of Mayor, to help facilitate both the Chamber of Commerce and Navan Town Council in delivering for the town.
