Lobbying

Through our lobbying activity Galway Chamber provides a unified voice for business in Galway to local and national Government, policy makers and the media.

Our policy/ lobbying agenda is shaped by our members. By actively engaging with our members, we know the issues and challenges facing business in Galway and use our reputation, influence, expertise and experience to deliver a positive change for Galway business.

Our lobbying activities take place in various forms:

Direct communication with political representatives and Ministers
Engagement with local government
Representation on various boards, committees and steering groups
Through our national body Chambers Ireland

Our policy work is shaped by our commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and the prioritisation of the five goals below throughout our activities.

If you have any questions on the Chamber's policy activity, or would like to discuss policy issues, please contact Elaine Murphy emurphy@galwaychamber.com or (091) 563536

Priorities

Public Transport

Our objective is to drive the stakeholder agenda to signiﬁcantly improve the sustainability and efﬁciency of the transport network in #OurGalway.

Galway Chamber calls for the implementation of the Galway Transportation Strategy
https://www.galwaycity.ie/galway-transport-strategy
We also support the Galway City Ring Road and made a submission to An Bord Pleanála.
Galway Chamber Submission to An Bord Pleanála
Galway Chamber has facilitated engagement with NTA, Galway City & County Councils, Parkmore Transport Action Group, Bus Eireann, Irish Rail, Gluas, Elected Representatives and representatives from Galway Business organisations in relation to the GTS and the GCRR
http://www.n6galwaycity.ie/
Galway Chamber has called for An Bórd Pleanála to continue the oral hearing progress for the GCRR. A presentation is being created in preparation for this.
In September 2019 Galway Chamber launched the 'Get Galway Moving' Campaign.
This campaign won ‘Most Successful Policy Campaign’ at this year’s Chambers Ireland annual Chamber Awards.
The campaign was launched in Leinster house and has included a roll-out series of videos, press releases, interviews, lobbying and engagement events with stakeholders to highlight Galway’s traffic issue and emphasise the urgency for the implementation of the GTS and the GCRR.

Get Galway Moving Campaign Videos
Video 1

Infrastructure

Good infrastructure is required for Galway's economy to grow and prosper.

Galway Chamber advocates for the delivery of

N6 Galway City Ring Road to provide space for public transport
Galway Chamber submission to An Bord Pleanála
Planned development of the Port of Galway
Galway Chamber made a submission on behalf of Galway Port to the European Commission’s ‘Public Consultation on Regulation (EU) No 1315/2013 on Union guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network’ (TEN-T).
Investment in public transport infrastructure and greenways as part of a county-wide strategy
a strong electricity grid infrastructure to secure supply to all areas and promote economic development

Balanced Regional Development

Regional Airports -

Regional Accelerators and Innovation Initiatives – Galway Chamber is collaborating with our colleagues in Cork, Limerick and Waterford to address the lack of funding for regional accelerator programmes. We are lobbying government heavily on this issue.
A proposal on the types of accelerator programmes that are needed in the region has also been created as well as the amount of funding that needs to be allocated to achieve this.

The above all feeds into the work that Galway Chamber is doing in relation to the Galway City Local Community Development Committee (LECP) Implementation Plan to develop and promote Galway as an innovative city.

Galway City LECP Implementation Plan 2020-2021

Housing

Our objective is to foster an affordable, sustainable, friendly, diverse and entertaining residential environment in #OurGalway.

Galway Chamber campaigns for:

Funding for Local Authorities to build sufficient affordable and social housing on state-owned properties in the city and county, if necessary, to achieve PI2040 density goals
Implementing measures to make housing – in all forms – more affordable and accessible to all parts of society
Suspending development levies, in the short term, on private strategic housing initiatives
Extending the ‘Living City Initiative’ to encourage ‘City Working’ for smaller businesses
Enacting legislation to provide security of tenure: support this with a referendum if needed

Galway Chambers Actions

Galway Chamber is part of City regions Ireland - a group bringing together the Chambers of Commerce of Cork, Dublin, Galway, Limerick and Waterford - the 5 cities, identified by the National Planning Framework, Project Ireland 2040. City Regions Ireland is working for the common goal of ensuring the country’s 5 cities are developed sustainably as the national and regional economic engines and to support a population projected in the National Planning Framework to grow by 25% in Dublin and 50% in the other four cities out to 2040.
https://www.dublinchamber.ie/DublinChamberofCommerce/media/banners/City-Regions-
Ireland-28-11-18.pdf
Galway Chamber submitted a review of the draft Regional Economic and Spatial Strategy (RSES) by the Northern and Western Regional Authority.
Galway Chamber Review of the Draft RSES
In addition to the review submission of the draft RSES, Galway Chamber also made a submission on the boundary of the Galway Metropolitan Area prepared by Future Analytics Consulting.
Galway Chamber Submission on the boundary of the Galway Metropolitan Area

Updated RSES - https://www.nwra.ie/rses/
Galway Chamber also made a submission to the draft Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy prepared by the Southern Region.
Galway Chamber Submission to the draft RSES Southern Region

Promoting Galway

The Chamber leads Why Galway reaching out to visiting delegations and our diaspora and networks, promoting the talent, lifestyle and opportunities Galway has to offer. We need to further progress this campaign with collaboration from key stakeholders.

https://www.whygalway.com/

Failte Ireland Tourism Destination Task Force for Galway City.

Galway Chamber is co-leading this taskforce which will work on building a destination recovery plan for Galway. This recovery plan will provide the guidance and structure for Galway for the next number of years. It will prioritise projects and industry activity that will provide Galway with the capacity to welcome back visitors and re-imagine Galway in a way that reassures our visitors and host communities.

Galway Chamber will support by encouraging local support for local businesses and spending locally - Galway Chamber Gift Card

Priorities

Our Galway

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