Athlone Chamber holds Pre-Budget Business Breakfast
Athlone Chamber of Commerce held a Pre-Budget Business Breakfast on Wednesday, June 12, in the Shamrock Lodge Hotel, with a panel of speakers including Minister for Finance Michael McGrath.
The breakfast was moderated by Business Editor for the Business Post Lorcan Allen and was sponsored by RBK Chartered Accountants, DPD Ireland and TUS Midlands Midwest. This event brought together influential voices from the business and financial sectors to discuss crucial topics in anticipation of the Government’s publication of the Summer Economic Statement.
The panel included Minister for Finance Michael McGrath, Dr Alison Sheridan TUS, Mike Scanlan, RBK Chartered Accountants, Colin Kennedy, DPD Ireland, and Regina Bushell, President of Athlone Chamber of Commerce and Managing Director of Grovelands Childcare. The Chamber welcomed over 100 attendees at the event, while over 60 viewed the event online. Guests gained invaluable insights and a deeper understanding of the upcoming budget decisions that will shape the region's economic landscape.
Minister for Finance Michael McGrath spoke about the cost of business including auto enrolment, the minimum wage, energy costs and supply. Constraints in the Irish economy including housing were also discussed.
Afterwards, Minister McGrath said: "It was a pleasure to be here at this Pre Budget Business Breakfast. I want to thank Athlone Chamber of Commerce for organising this discussion which covered a lot of important issues from the cost of doing business to income tax to the simplification of the tax code for small businesses. It was great to meet the wide variety of businesses from Athlone and to hear first hand some of the issues they are facing on a day to day basis. In a few short weeks we will be publishing the Summer Economic Statement, and that will outline the fiscal parameters for Budget 2025 which will take place later in the year.”
"We are thrilled with the overwhelming response and success of the Pre-Budget Business Breakfast," said Regina Bushell, President of the Athlone Chamber of Commerce.
"This event highlighted the chamber's commitment to fostering meaningful discussions and providing a platform for influential voices in finance, accounting, education, and business to share their insights. We extend our gratitude to RBK Chartered Accountants, DPD Ireland and TUS for their valuable sponsorship, as well as to our speakers and moderator for their contributions."