Last year, Dublin Chamber members were invited to engage in a roundtable discussion on the topic of apprenticeships. The feedback received revealed an appetite for apprenticeships (increasingly used as a solution to address retention challenges and skills gaps) derailed by issues such as a lack of support, bureaucracy and an inflexible system for implementation. This was further explored within the Q1 2023 Business Outlook Survey, in addition to a labour taskforce meeting with the program lead from the National Apprenticeship Office (NAO).
A lobbying position on apprenticeships was then developed and confirmed by the Dublin Chamber policy council, and a meeting was held today with Colm O’ Reardon, Secretary General at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to further discuss and advocate for businesses regarding accessing or navigating this space.
The first meeting of the sustainability taskforce took place in January where the taskforce was joined by Assistant Sec. Gen Barry Quinlan and Eamonn Shiels of SEAI. Assistant Sec. Gen Barry Quinlan spoke on matters such as the built environment, Ireland’s heat policy and Ireland’s poor performance regarding fossil fuels needed for heating.
Metrolink has been a consistent part of Dublin Chamber’s advocacy campaign on infrastructure projects throughout the Dublin region. Next month, the 19th of February, Bord Pleanála has confirmed an oral hearing into the €9.5 billion MetroLink project. A welcomed hearing encouraging capital investment in critical infrastructure for the growing Dublin region.
This month, Dublin Chamber filled its lobbying returns for the latest period with returns including Dublin Chamber’s Annual Dinner, Dáil reception hosted by Deputy Cormac Devlin as well as December’s networking event in the Iveagh House with Minister Dara Calleary.
Next month will see the Dublin Chamber’s Business Outlook survey kick off with the first survey being sent out on Thursday 15th of February.