1 April 2021
By Mary Bermingham
mary@TheCork.ie
Paula Cogan, President of Cork Chamber comments on the latest evolution of COVID-19 restrictions, announced by the Government.
“While the announcement by Government of phased reopening is welcome, every intervening week of lost economic activity has grave consequences for the economy, and the impacts on the number of businesses that will survive and emerge from this pandemic. Every milestone must be met or surpassed with vigour. There is an irreconcilable tension between public health ambitions and the resumption of full economic activity can only be fully resolved by achieving critical mass in vaccinations and active monitoring and testing thereafter. The business community has responded remarkably in the last 12 months to the onset of the pandemic, changing business models, adapting operations, and some, unfortunately pulling down their shutters. Supports must be strengthened and extended to 2022 particularly for the most vulnerable sectors.”
“It is essential that our international competitiveness is actively pursued as we emerge from this pandemic. Major infrastructural and quality of life orientated spend is will be required and every step available must be taken to invest in a promising future. CMATS, the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund recently announced and multiple other projects must be delivered on to instil confidence and rebuild a more sustainable and resilient city region. To that end, the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility must be fully used and the National Development Plan must support economic recovery by being more ambitious than ever imagined.”
