Drop the Vat Campaign by Drogheda Chamber

Joan Baez once sang that ‘No man is an Island’ and no truer words were spoken about the latest initiative from the Drogheda & District Chamber Council. Patricia Rooney, the President of the Drogheda Chamber was interviewed on the Seoige show yesterday evening and in light of the UK VAT rate reduction, came up with the idea to Drop the VAT in order to save the economy.

In the wonderful Christmas song, Winter Wonderland, there is a superb line which goes ‘Sleigh Bells ring, are you listening? In the land, snow is glistening….’ but if the economy continues as it is, we could easily be singing ‘No tills ring, are you listening, In the land, nothing’s glistening..’

In an open letter to the MInister, Patricia is asking the minister to reduce the VAT rate and realise how critical it is to the very survival of the businesses in Drogheda.

This is the open letter:

Open Letter to:

The Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan T.D.

The Minister for Trade Enterprise and Employment

Mary Coughlan T.D.

Dear Ministers,

I write to you as the current President of the Drogheda & District Chamber and appeal to both of you to act urgently to assist the commercial and retail sectors of this country to stem the flow of income and sales North to the jurisdiction of the U.K. government.

On Monday next 1^st December we in this part of the island of Ireland increase our V.A.T. rate from 21% to 21.5% while the Northern Ireland economy sees a reduction from the present 17.5% rate to 15% ignoring all the other negative factors which mitigate against us for a moment we are disadvantaged to the tune of 45% on the V.A.T. issue alone.

The Belfast City Council and the City and County Councils all over Northern Ireland are four square behind their business sector and have organised a Republic Wide advertising campaign to attract the southern shoppers into their stores and hotels and restaurants with even more incentives. Free Parking in the car parks under their control, media coverage of what is available and where, extending opening hours etc etc. They are helping to save and support employment for their residents and it is being done largely at our expense. Sainsbury’s supermarket in Newry is their leading store across the entire U.K. for turnover and this is almost exclusively because of Southern shoppers.

We have built a Motorway and a landmark bridge at the Boyne River to see our jobs safely across the border with every car and in case they had any inclination towards shopping in this town we are charging them to get in and out of it through the Toll booths that bar the way and grab a fee first before anyone gets an opportunity to show loyalty or patriotism as was called for by you most recently.

The local Borough Council in Drogheda have been proactive and supported the retailers here announcing a free parking facility in all their owned car parks from 4^th December until 24^th December for four hours each day 11.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. which is most welcome but not nearly enough to assist us.

We need the V.A.T. rates reduced immediately Ministers and we need you to realise how critical this is to the very survival of these businesses. We need the National Toll Roads to lift the barriers to business in Drogheda immediately and we need your help to do that as well.

We need the multi-chains operating in this island to play fair with the southern economy and the southern people and have parity of pricing and we need the Irish owned companies to lead the way which will compel the rest to follow, we need your help to get that done Ministers.

We need the banks to actively support the business sectors and allow the cash flow to trade that they all so desperately need now, not at some unspecified time in the future right now Ministers.

We need a fighting chance to compete Ministers and between you, you can give us a fighting chance we can do the rest but not with both hands tied behind our backs. The simple economics of this request speak for themselves if we keep our retailers open for business and doing business in a fair market where they can compete we save jobs not just theirs all the businesses that feed into the retail business sector. If we keep those jobs we avoid the additional burden on the public coffers to provide social welfare to those who will lose their jobs otherwise when many of those businesses collapse from the strain they are under. If you as a Government do those things and support these businesses with practical and immediate action now those businesses will continue to be in a position to support this country in its fiscal management, they cannot do that from the bankruptcy courts no one wins.

On behalf of all the members of this Chamber and all the people and businesses in this district and county I implore you please make these important decisions, we call you to action and we await your immediate response to that call.

Patricia Rooney

Drogheda Businesses Awarded for Excellence

Last Saturday, the annual Drogheda Business Excellence Awards were held in the Boyne Valley amid a night of red-carpet glamour, excitement and flowing champagne!

There were 11 award categories in all and I’m thrilled for everyone that won. The first year of the awards saw me picking up an award for Customer Excellence in Tourism & Hospitality for the Droichead Arts Centre. Last year I was the force behind D’Vine Wine Bar & Restaurant winning Best New Business and Customer Excellence in Retail & Services. It’s a fantastic feeling to win.

However, I’m even more thrilled that my client Anne Reilly of Paycheck Plus won Best Small Business. I was the driving force behind the application and Anne sealed the deal with her interview with the judges. I was so delighted that she won, especially as she just won the Irish Payroll Association Outsource Provider of the Year award (for the second year running). I love having successful clients and I know that Anne Reilly is set for huge levels of growth and success. Anne definitely brings passion to payroll!

A word of Congratulations also has to go to Spoiltchild for their email product Toddle. They won Best Internet and ICT award - although Alan and Mary were unable to attend the event, I was delighted to yell down the phone when the award was being announced! I hope Alan was able to hear us!!

A great night was had by all - both winners and short-listed companies. Everyone left a winner, some just won a bit more than others.

Here’s to the 2009 Drogheda Chamber Excellence Awards.

Tom Costello of Cuil.com visits Drogheda

On a recent visit back to his hometown of Drogheda from the sunny shores of California, Tom Costello visited the Council members of the Drogheda & District Chamber. Costello along with his wife have created a new Internet search engine, cuil.com.

As I sit on the Council table of the Drogheda Chamber I went along to meet the man who is taking on one of the biggest challenges in Internet living history - rivalling google.com!

What an unassuming man! He was a student of late 80s/early 90s and as such, with no jobs in Ireland, he moved to the US. His journey is one of interest, success and a longing for a hometown unlike his current one.

As he said himself “The climate is a little bit cooler and there is a great sense of community spirit in Drogheda”.

He was fascinating to listen to how he and his wife got his business off the ground while arranging childcare and schooling duties.  It was a pleasure to be there when he was presented with a life-long honorary membership.

Tom was delighted to receive this honour, the first in the Chamber’s history. As a Council, we wanted to wish him the best of luck in his new venture.

The day ended with lunch in Scholars Hotel where the Drogheda & District Chamber Council members and Drogheda Borough Councillors got regaled with further stories of success from Tom.