Kieran’s Comments, Re: Quarterly Economic Report, Cork City Council Meeting, 12 July 2010

The recent economic report makes for interesting and sad reading – 46,000 people unemployed in our region, a large vacancy within our business units in the city centre. We can blame a large number of factors but ultimately the City Council needs a stronger policy of bringing more people and trade into the city centre. Walking around town, it’s disheartening to see shops offering 70% off.  One would worry about their tight profit margins, the effect of rates and service charges. Many city businesses are probably far from green shoots. I would argue that jobs right across the city are on the line on a weekly basis – that is a reality. We are I feel dealing with a climate of risk of further closure.

We got to get people spending in the local economy. We need to send a message to Cork people – that’s the only way Cork will grow is that it has to grow within itself. We need to build initiatives. As they say in the consumer world, if we don’t take care of the customer, someone else will.