Laois Chamber Alliance urges SME-first approach as Ireland shapes EU Presidency priorities
27 February 2026
Minister for European Affairs Thomas Byrne TD met with Laois Chamber Alliance today at the Chamber’s offices in Portlaoise to hear a cross-sector business perspective on the practical pressures impacting competitiveness and growth.
After a short welcome from Chamber President, Dr. Michelle Byrne where she highlighted the need for Laois to increase in digitalisation and innovation and encouraging the Minister to hold EU presidency meetings in Laois. The discussion focused on the cumulative “stacking effect” of costs and compliance facing employers, including labour and wage costs, pension auto-enrolment contributions, statutory sick pay and HR compliance, energy and utilities, commercial rates and insurance, financing costs, input inflation, and increasing administrative burdens.
Minister Byrne discussed the importance of competitiveness and simplification, and the need to ensure businesses can plan and invest with greater certainty as Ireland engages at EU level on regulatory and policy priorities.
Richard Kennedy, Enva, stated that speedier infrastructure delivery is paramount to support enterprise expansion and long-term competitiveness.
Ann Fingleton, Fingleton White highlighted that energy costs are unlikely to decrease in the near term due to structural factors in Ireland’s energy system, underlining the importance of certainty and realistic planning assumptions for businesses. Sandra Redden of Mochua Print highlighted that sustainability compliance is affecting the growth of business and businesses ability to win in tendering processes.
Andrew Shaw of Shaws outlined the broader “cost of doing business” challenge, noting the cumulative impact of rising operational costs on margins, investment decisions and the capacity of firms to grow and hire. Ger Mulhall, Mulhalls supermarket, stated that the government need to release pressure on businesses that are already struggling with costs.
Leona Conroy, ICT Network spoke passionately about the need for the midlands region to accelerate in research and development, stem development and innovation and stressed the importance of continued EU funding.
The meeting concluded with the business group recommending a course of action during the EU presidency. CEO Jackie Carroll stated “As Ireland prepares for its EU Presidency, we are calling for a sharper focus on SME competitiveness and the cumulative impact of regulation, including simplification and better regulation, realistic implementation timelines and transition periods, and clearer assessment of how multiple measures interact in practice for smaller firms.”
Minister for European Affairs Thomas Byrne, concluded the meeting stating that the Irish governments objective is to maintain Irelands competitiveness and long term business viability.
For more information contact Laois Chamber Alliance: Jackie Carroll, jackie@laoischamber.ie.
