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The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Hilary Benn MP, visited Newry on Monday past, 30 March for roundtable discussions with the local business community. The event was organised by Newry Chamber of Commerce as part of the organisation's ongoing lobbying efforts across a range of economic issues.
Michael Savage, CEO of Newry Chamber, The Secretary of State for NI, Hilary
Benn MP, Conor Patterson, President of Newry Chamber and Gary Digney, Vice
President of Newry Chamber
The discussions were held at the Canal Court Hotel and hosted by Chamber President Conor Patterson and Chamber CEO Michael Savage, along with members of the Newry Chamber Executive Board. Discussions centred on the key issues affecting economic development in the region, with Chamber members raising concerns around access to labour, wastewater infrastructure, and funding for local skills programmes. Calls were also made for closer collaboration between the Irish and UK Governments on cross-border funding for infrastructure projects in the Greater Newry and Greater Dundalk region.
During his visit the Secretary of State called at the headquarters of MJM Marine in Carnbane, the Newry-based global marine fit-out company that works with some of the world's largest cruise brands on refitting bars, restaurants, cabins and public areas onboard ships. He met with Naoimh McConville, Joint Managing Director of The Rathbane Group, MJM Marine's parent company, along with Gary Annett, CEO of MJM Marine, and members of the wider team, before touring the production facilities.
Benn MP and Michael Savage, CEO of Newry Chamber.
Speaking after the meeting, Newry Chamber President Conor Patterson said: "We would like to thank the Secretary of State for coming to Newry today and taking the time to hear at first-hand the challenges and opportunities our businesses face in this border region."
Patterson added that the discussions covered Newry's unique position on the border and the need for UK Government support on labour access, wastewater infrastructure, and skills funding. "The meeting was productive and the Secretary of State left with a number of items on which to come back to the Newry business community and we look forward to further engagement in the future," he said.
Newry Chamber Board of Directors at a roundtable discussion hosted by the
Chamber in the Canal Court Hotel, Newry.
The Secretary of State also commented on the visit, saying: "The Newry area is really important to the economy of Northern Ireland, benefiting from its location and a strong tradition of local entrepreneurship." Mr Benn added that he had "a really good discussion with local businesses about the challenges and opportunities they face, including skills, the supply of labour, the Windsor Framework and the constraints on development as a result of lack of wastewater infrastructure."
He also pointed to the UK Government's commitment to economic growth, referencing the Industrial Strategy and £30 million in Local Innovation Partnership funding for Northern Ireland.
Naoimh McConville, Joint Managing Director of The Rathbane Group (MJM Marine’s
Parent Company) at MJM Marine’s HQ in Newry City.
