This article is from page 83 of the 2008-09-16 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 83 JPG
BUSINESS interests in Ennis have welcomed the Government decision to bring forward the 2009 budget in a bid to deal with the economic crisis.
Last week, Finance Minister, Brian Lenihan announced that the 2009 Budget will be revealed on October 14 and a number of initiatives de- signed to boost economic activity will be announced over the next few weeks.
Ennis Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Officer, Rita McInerney said that businesses will welcome the Governments’ action to take the reins to try and restore economic ac- tivity and consumer confidence.
“T believe this is a very positive move. There is a feeling that some- thing needs to be done.
“This shows that the Government
is taking control, it shows them in a pro-active role and will increase confidence.”
But the CEO warned that there are concerns about what measures will be announced to balance the public books.
“IT would be cautious in terms of cutbacks or reneging on things that have been promised for this region. I’m thinking in terms of things like the water supply and other infra- structural items. If these are not in place, then Ennis will not grow’, McInerney said.
She added that “infrastructure 1s the one area that is causing most con- cern and there can be no cutbacks in that area.”
The Chamber is ‘strong in the be- lief that if the infranstructure is there, “investors won’t be slow to do their job.”