At a meeting of Chambers chief executives, by conference call, it was noted that disruption to the national and global economy occurring at pace. Our EU and other trading partners are taking heroic efforts to maintain employment and continuity within their business sectors.

To protect the long-term sustainability and competitiveness of Irish businesses the Chambers network calls for government to recognise the unique nature of the shock our economy is experiencing as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, by foregoing Local Authority Rates and supplementing the budgets of Local Authorities by the amount foregone.

It is essential that, for the next three months:

• Local Authorities Rates are cancelled, and,
• That government provides extraordinary funding to Local Authorities from the Central Fund.