In these unprecedented times, Ennis Chamber assures its members that we remain on call, offering support and lobbying on your behalf, something we will continue to do throughout this crisis and beyond.
All emails to info@ennischamber.ie will be read and acted upon. For updates and links to business supports please see ‘News’ section on www.ennischamber.ie or follow us on our active Twitter account: @EnnisChamber
What we are doing for member businesses:
Nationally
- Chambers Ireland has direct access to, and is lobbying daily at the highest government levels on behalf of our members.
- Ennis Chamber together with representatives from the 41-strong network share information and raise issues of concern, via regular communication. Together we agree key lobbying issues which are immediately communicated for action to the Department of the Taoiseach and other key ministries.
- Nationally, Chambers Ireland has called for all businesses, Government and all State bodies to be flexible and responsible to the needs of their business and economic partners, to ensure business continuity and to protect the Irish economy from the worst impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic
- Those who can pay – those who have adequate cash flows – need to pay their suppliers at the earliest opportunity.
- For those who cannot pay, we urge creditors to show forbearance and flexibility in this unique situation.
- All businesses are urged to engage with their banks to ensure they access supports that become available.
- We urge all Government Departments, agencies, Local Authorities, State and Semi-State bodies to pay on invoices at the earliest opportunity, even more quickly than their prompt payment obligations make necessary.
Locally
- Ennis Chamber calls for landlords to support tenants whose businesses have had to close. Banks are offering supports to landlords, we ask them to access those supports and to pass those benefits on to tenants. If a business is not making money it cannot pay bills.
- Ennis Chamber is to meet with Clare County Council officials to discuss payment of rates. Our immediate concern is for member businesses that have been forced to close – these businesses should not be charged rates for the duration of these closures.
- Aware that this will create a funding issue for our Local Authorities throughout the country, Ennis Chamber, through Chambers Ireland is lobbying for central Government to step in to support our Local Authority by bridging the resulting gap in expected Rates returns.
- Ennis Chamber continues to liaise with DEASP on behalf of members keen to resolve staff payment issues.
It is in everyone’s interest to ensure that each of us helps mitigate the worst of this crisis. It is only through working together that we can find solutions.
