Where this programme is welcome, one kind of gets the impression, it kinda ticking the box of what needs to be done in terms of marketing the city to business leaders.

The hub proposal rightly outlines that

(a) The growing problem of office vacancy in the city centre

(b) The perception that the city centre is difficult and expensive place to do business

(c) The need to diversity the business offer of the city centre

(d) Improving the city centre’s profile and identity as a dynamic and innovative business centre

And those last words should be the words written over City Hall for the next ten years as we travel through this economic storm, because the settlement that thinks it can stay the same and not be dynamic will be further taken away by the economic storm

Whereas, providing an incentive is all very good and very positive, I think the time does need to be taken to grasp a sense of where the city centre is going. And we need to move it forward.

I’m very taken at the moment by the Belfast and Northern Ireland ad

A year of exceptional opportunities, our time to turn the tide, a chance to change perceptions, your invitation to be part of it, NI 2012, Your Time, Your Place

Followed by “Northern Ireland 2012 is going to be amazing! With so many events, celebrations, commemorations and amazing projects coming to completion, this is our time to turn the tide and confidently put Northern Ireland on the global tourism map”.

Now that video package is not all about tourism, there are also vibrant business street shots

But it does pitch questions, is this city at the races in a regional sense or a national sense? I’m certainly not happy to let a city such as Belfast or Limerick to pass us.

So when I look at the Hub proposal, I’m saying to myself, what does this say about Cork, yes it says we’re innovative but are we just ticking the box, saying yep we’re innovative but strongly innovative enough

 

With the hub proposal, what’s the difference this proposal and CIT Rubicon Centre’s project. Why are we not working with CIT to roll out their work into the city centre? Why are we double jobbing what has been developed?

Their rubiconcentre.ie programme does the job of what the hub enterprise programme promotes plus so much more:

· Training in all areas of business including financial management, market research & validation, business process, patenting, product development, sales training.

 

· Mentoring from experienced business advisers and practitioners.

· Office space in the Rubicon Incubation Centre.

 

· €15,000 from Enterprise Ireland for individuals participating in Phase 2 (Income tax liability will be the sole responsibility of the participant, and individuals are encouraged to seek professional advice in relation to potential liabilities).

 

· Networking with other entrepreneurs and business development agencies.

· Introductions to seed and early stage capital investment networks.

 

· Access to entrepreneurship best practice, both national and international.

 

· Peer-group learning from participants in the region and across the country.

 

· Access to the expertise in Enterprise Ireland through our market research centre.

 

· Expertise from the Institutes of Technology and the supportive environment of their business incubation centres.

 

The list goes on, why are we re-inventing the wheel here? I think there is enormous scope here to bring CIT and UCC into the loop here.

 

Kieran’s Motions and Question to the City Manager, Cork City Council Meeting, 30 April 2012

 

Question to the City Manager:

What is the manager’s response to the remarks made by Diarmuid Gavin on a recent Late Late Show interview and his reference to the staff of Cork City Council as “something from Fr. Ted”? (Cllr Kieran McCarthy)

 

Motions:

That the Museum be closed once a week to the general public to accommodate a schools’ programme on that day (Cllr Kieran McCarthy) 

 

That the City Council work with the Gardaí to address the problem that the area of Mary Street and Red Abbey Street has become a meeting place for large groups of youths bringing with it disruptive behaviour including under age alcohol and substance abuse resulting in a free-for-all attitude and a disrespect of the residents and the historical site. The residents are concerned about the disturbance to local residents as it causes disruption of the peace and interference on an ongoing basis. It is an intrusion and inconvenience causing residents constant distress, annoyance and worry as there is the potential for disorder, unruliness and physical conflict on their doorsteps.

The Abbey is a tourist attraction being Cork’s oldest surviving historical structure and is part of the tourist route but the surrounding areas are continually being vandalized and littered due to the activity in the area. The use of the Abbey grounds as a recreational assembly site is inappropriate and unacceptable in their neighbourhood. Local families, their children, friends and residents passing through the square feel intimidated and unsafe when these gangs have gathered. They wish to expose this problem and bring it further to find a resolution to restore safety and peace to our neighbourhood and community. This will also ensure that tourists can appreciate this historical site as it is a designated national monument and should be given due consideration (Cllr Kieran McCarthy)