Ibec's anti-Brexit campaign and meeting with Micheál Martin
I just wanted to update you on a couple of pressing issues.
The UK vote on EU membership is the most immediate concern. As part of our ongoing work, yesterday we launched a major poster campaign in Dublin Airport to highlight to travellers to and from the UK the compelling, positive case for Britain remaining in the EU. The campaign, which will run right up to the vote on Thursday 23 June, is targeted at voters in Britain with Irish family and business connections. The launch was covered by the main Irish news outlets, RTE, Irish Independent, Irish Times and Irish Examiner, but it also featured in the Financial Times and Alastair Campbell wrote about it in his blog. Please see links below to the media coverage.
While the outcome is a matter for UK voters, it is crucial that Irish concerns are heard and understood. The polls are tight and the outcome is too close to call. It is vital that we do all within our power to promote a vote to Remain and Ibec is taking the lead. Some member companies with activity in the UK are planning to communicate to UK-based staff their perspective on the issue. We will circulate some material over the coming days that may be useful in this regard. For more on Ibec's campaign visit www.ibec.ie/brexit.
Separately, Ibec continues to set out key business priorities to the new government and the other key parties in the new Dáil. Yesterday the Leader of Fianna Fáil Micheál Martin addressed an Ibec Roundtable on key policy priorities. We raised a number of concerns about the direction of Fianna Fáil policy in certain areas, including labour market regulation, and pressed home the need for a pro-enterprise agenda over the coming months. It was a very positive and constructive exchange, with considerable common ground identified.
Ireland's pro-enterprise economic model remains an abiding strength; any drift towards short-sighted, populist solutions must be resisted. Ibec continues to assertively represent your interests on a national and international level. Recent filings from the Standards in Public Office Commission highlight Ibec's place as the most active lobbying organisation in the country. Between January and April Ibec registered 225 engagements with designated public officials and lobbied all the key government departments at the highest levels. This work continues, I'll keep you updated.
If you have any comments or queries let me know. It's always great to hear from you.
All the best
Danny McCoy
Links to media coverage:
Financial Times: http://goo.gl/wx5sDV
Alastair Campbell blog: http://goo.gl/pRN5GE
RTE: http://goo.gl/Txz8ZN
Irish Independent: http://goo.gl/Kte0xM
Irish Times: http://goo.gl/SJSAeZ
Irish Examiner: http://goo.gl/4k1oXU
Friday, 10 June 2016