DROGHEDA CHAMBER MEETS WITH MINISTER FOR FOREGIN AFFAIRS & MINISTER FOR DEFENCE, SIMON COVENEY TD, TO DISCUSS DEVELOPMENT PLANS FOR THE TOWN
Tuesday 4th May 2021, Drogheda, Ireland - Drogheda & District Chamber Council met with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence, Simon Coveney TD, last Friday afternoon to discuss a number of key issues relating to Brexit, the ongoing response to COVID-19 and the Dublin-Belfast Economic Corridor (DBEC).
The delegation was led by Robert Murray, President of Drogheda & District Chamber, along with Chamber Council members and some key executives from Drogheda-based businesses, including John Rooney (MD Flogas Ireland), Paul Fleming (CEO Drogheda Port Company) and William Johnston (MD Amray Medical). Fergus O’Dowd TD was also in attendance.
Following a comprehensive brief from the Minister on agreed topics, the discussion centred around opportunities for Drogheda and the local area to consolidate its increasing importance as a Regional Growth Centre. The possibilities afforded by initiatives such as the MI Corridor, the increased significance of Drogheda’s strategic location post-Brexit, and the greater propensity of skilled workers to want to remain locally-based were all cited as key reasons why Drogheda is a strong candidate for enhanced infrastructural investment at the government level.
Drogheda Chamber President Robert Murray commented, “We thank Minister Coveney and his team for giving us the opportunity to begin a meaningful engagement with government on strategies for how Drogheda’s inherent advantages in terms of location, logistics access and talent can be best utilised to serve Ireland’s post-pandemic, Brexit-era economic growth, both locally and internationally. Drogheda has a vibrant, innovative community of businesses of all sizes and across many market sectors, and access to a large, highly-qualified workforce who now more than ever want to be based locally. We hope that our discussions during this meeting will lead to actions in developing Drogheda’s potential as a regional growth hub for the North-East”.
Speaking after the event, Minister Coveney said: "I was delighted to speak on Friday afternoon with members of Drogheda and District Chamber, at the invitation of its President Mr. Robert Murray.
I briefed the group on the state of play in the Government's response to the twin challenges of Brexit and COVID-19, and on the opportunities presented by the Dublin Belfast Economic Corridor. We had an engaging discussion and I wish the Chamber well as it continues to work to support local businesses in the period ahead."
Drogheda is the most populous town in Ireland and the 6th largest population centre, and was recently named as one of Europe’s top ten “emerging micro-cities” by the Financial Times FDI Magazine.