Dear all,

As promised, please find below the text of a reminder email to be issued to all Chamber members tomorrow (Tuesday).  The level of participation to date has been very strong but there are a couple of counties within the region where the response rate has been low so I would encourage all of you to promote this vital survey amongst your members so that we have as many people participating as possible from throughout the South East.

Remember, this is your members’ opportunity to influence the lobbying agenda for future strategic investment in the South East Region.

Thanks again for your support.South East Chambers

Press Release

30th April 2010    

Embargo: For release on May 4th

“Stand Up and Fight” for the South East

Sporting legend Mick Galwey was in New Ross last week to support the launch of Access : South East, a major new initiative by South East Chambers aimed at improving access to vital  services and infrastructure for business in the South East Region.

Mick had some sound advice for everyone in the South East: “One thing I have learned from my years on and off the pitch is that you have to work together as a team if you want to win.  When everyone on the team is pulling together, anything is possible.”

Access : South East project leader and director of Waterford Chamber, Orm Kenny, explained the background to the initiative: “The South East is a great place to live, work and do business and we have seen some significant investment in the region in recent years.  The new M9 will shortly connect Kilkenny, Carlow and Waterford with Dublin, some rail services to and from the region have improved and Waterford Airport is now easily accessible by road for passengers throughout the South East following the completion of the N25 bypass and the Waterford outer ring road.  However, there are other areas where the region has been very poorly served:  The recent decision by CIE to discontinue rail services between Wexford, Rosslare and Waterford is one current example of the South East being overlooked by decision makers in Dublin.  We urgently need to identify and pursue a new set of priorities for Access in the South East and work together as a Region to ensure that all our communities benefit from the right strategic and targeted investment in the years to come.”

The first phase of Access : South East is an online survey managed by Kilkenny based market research firm Market Dynamics, which will be issued on May 11th to every member of every Chamber of Commerce across the South East.  Commenting on the survey, Kenny continued: “I am delighted that Fiona Macrae of Market Dynamics has kindly donated her company’s time and expertise to manage the online survey.  Their involvement means that people can have absolute confidence in the confidentiality and professionalism with which the survey will be managed.”  

Tony Hennebry of Green Biofuels Ireland, said “We are delighted to be part of this important initiative and I would call on all Chamber members in the South East to take part in the survey and show the country that the South East is a force to be reckoned with.”   Derek O’Connor of Bam Building Ltd. commented “It is vitally important that we work together as a region so that the South East can fulfil its potential.  Bam Building Ltd. is very pleased to support the Access : South East project through which we can all help make this happen.”

South East Chambers is an umbrella organisation representing the business community in the South East and is made up of individual Chambers in Carlow, Clonmel, Dungarvan, Enniscorthy, Gorey, Kilkenny, New Ross, Waterford and Wexford.  Eric Barron, Chairman of South East Chambers, commented: “In these challenging times, it has never been more important to promote the development of the highest quality infrastructure throughout our Region so that everyone can get access to key services, customers and suppliers.  South East Chambers is calling on every Chamber member in the region to get behind this project, complete the survey, and help ensure that the South East has a strong, united voice that cannot be ignored by central government.”

Ends