Brown O’Connor Communications Weekly Look Ahead – Ireland Wednesday 5 October

  • Incoming Taoiseach Leo Varadkar TD has said he does not envisage having to introduce a mini-budget early next year.

  • Junior Minister for Financial Services, Seán Fleming TD has published an updated ‘Ireland for Finance’ strategy. To view, click HERE.

  • Cabinet has signed off on legislation to underpin reforms to An Bord Pleanála. Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien TD has also published an action plan. To read, click HERE.

  • This evening, the Dáil will debate amendments to the Higher Education Authority Bill.

  • Tomorrow, the Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Defence will face the Dáil for Questions.

  • Tomorrow, leading figures in Irish business will speak at The Business Show at the Convention Centre, Dublin. For more information, click HERE.

  • On Friday 7 October, the Central Statistics Office will unveil the latest industrial production and turnover statistics.

  • On Tuesday 11 October, the Women in Business All-Island Female Entrepreneurs Conference will take place in both Dublin and Belfast. For more information, click HERE.

  • From Tuesday 11 to Wednesday 12 October, Hospitality Expo 2022 will take place the RDS, Dublin. For more information, click HERE.

  • On Wednesday 12 October, Sinn Féin’s Commission on the Future of Ireland will host a conference at Belfast’s Waterfront Hall. The party’s Ard Fheis will take place at the RDS, Dublin on 4 and 5 November. On 23 November, an Ireland’s Future summit will take place at the Ulster Hall, Belfast.

  • On Thursday 13 October, applications to the post of CEO at the Health Service Executive will close.

  • The latest Sunday Independent/Ireland Thinks poll of the parties places Sinn Féin on 37%, ahead of Fine Gael (21%), and Fianna Fáil (20%).

Other Stories this week

  • On Saturday, Fianna Fáil delegates adopted twelve new policy objectives set out in a document at the party’s Ard Fheis.

  • Nicola Skelly has been appointed Executive Director of the Washington Ireland Program.

  • Professor Breda Smyth has been appointed Chief Medical Officer at the Department of Health.

  • The Central Bank’s quarterly bulletin has forecasted a drop in growth from 6.4% this year to 2.3% in 2023.

  • Vacant positions in the hospitality sector fell from 40,000 last autumn to 22,000 in July, according to data from Fáilte Ireland.

  • Mediahuis Ireland CEO, Peter Vandermeersch has said the money saved from VAT reductions will go towards developing digital platforms.

  • Ireland’s manufacturing output fell for the fourth consecutive month, according to AIB.

Upcoming key political and business events

  • 6 October, Construction Industry Federation Annual Conference.

  • 11 October, Women in Business Female Entrepreneurs Conference.

  • 11 – 12 October, Hospitality Expo 2022.

  • 14 October, Law Society Gala.

  • 20 October, Dublin Chamber Annual Dinner.

  • 22 October, Fianna Fáil Taoiseach’s Dinner.

  • 5 November, Sinn Féin Ard Fheis.

  • 15 December, Leo Varadkar TD becomes Taoiseach.

Consultations