The following is the text of a letter I wrote to the papers dated 27th May 2012,
it was published by Cork’s Evening Echo and by the Irish Independent.

The letter was promoted by hearing repeatedly that various business associations, Chambers Ireland and Retail Ireland included, were again repeating the call for a Yes vote, to encourage “jobs and investment”. Then, given a long experience working in business, I see the reality, that Irish domestic business is under serious pressure – this sector is neglected both by Government policy and by these private business clubs. Worse, the community which sustains us, the Irish people, is damaged by their blind subservience to FDI and foreign dependence.

These business associations are themselves part of the gravy train!

The letter:

Dear Editor,

I have worked as a business systems (finance) consultant to the SME sector for 30 years and would like to go on record opposing Chambers Ireland, who have called for a Yes vote in the referendum.

Domestic SME’s are in serious difficulty, many have closed and more are barely hanging on – facing huge rates, rents and taxes with very little prospects.

As a business person I expect such organisations to represent the interests of business in Ireland, sadly they do not.  The vast majority of domestic business owners I know feel utterly deserted by Government policy – they see the contrasting supports handed to foreign corporations and the funds wasted bailing out bond holders and other gamblers.

We do need stable economy, and the most sustainable economy is the domestic one, it is rooted in Ireland.  The Chambers focus is around the policy to attract foreign direct investment (FDI).

The Chambers constantly call for “jobs and investment“, they did it before and since the Lisbon referendums, they are still doing it now.  But, does reality not matter? Advocates of reliance on FDI should see that our economy is imploding and maybe they should question it – the promises of Lisbon and this ‘European Project’ are false

If they were a business with this policy they would be gone to the wall, it isn’t working, the jobs are being destroyed, especially the sustainable domestic ones.

Should Chambers Ireland not have a policy that supports domestic business as the priority? Should it also have a policy to advocate in the interests of the community in which we all do business, i.e. in the interest of the Irish people?

Sadly Chambers Ireland are out of touch with the needs of domestic business and ignores the needs of Irish citizens, perhaps they too support vested interests? they certainly act accordingly!

Needless to add, I am voting No in this referendum.

Yours sincerely,

 

 

 

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Diarmaid Ó Cadhla