Business News

British Irish Chamber of Commerce sets 2018 Brexit agenda

By Business & Finance
19 February 2018
Eoin O’Neill, President of the British Irish Chamber of Commerce; Eddie Cullen, Managing Director of Commercial Banking, Ulster Bank; Olivia Buckley, Director of Communications, Tax Institute; Marie Hunt, Executive Director and Head of Research, CBRE; Jeanne Kelly, Intellectual Property Partner, LK Shields; Brian Daly, Head of Brexit, KPMG in Ireland (Photo: Paul Sherwood)

The British Irish Chamber of Commerce alongside KPMG and Ulster Bank today announced the launch of the year-long Brexit programme #Agenda2018.

This programme looks to address challenges and opportunities Brexit will bring about. Seminars will take place across Dublin, Cork, Galway, Belfast, Edinburgh and London spotlighting Brexit on SMEs, the ICT, infrastructure, life sciences, financial and professional services, culture, arts and sports.

#Agenda2018 – Business, Politics and Brexit will begin on Monday, 26th February and the list of events are as follows:

  • Infrastructure Seminar –  Monday, 26 February
  • ICT Seminar – Tuesday, 27 February
  • Brexit Seminar – Thursday, 1 March
  • Annual Spring Dinner – Thursday, 1 March

John McGrane, Director General of the British Irish Chamber of Commerce, said: “With the next phase of Brexit negotiations on the horizon, 2018 will set the agenda and framework for UK-Ireland trade in the years to come. In light of this, the Chamber has developed an innovate seminar series to help businesses chart this period of uncertainty and plan for the future. Our impressive line-up of speakers will provide their insight into the Brexit process, possible trading models post-Brexit and how best to plan for the future. With UK-Irish trade set to witness great change, the stage is set for our most compelling event series yet.”

Eddie Cullen, Managing Director, Commercial Banking Division at Ulster Bank, said: “Ulster Bank is very pleased to co-sponsor the British Irish Chamber of Commerce #Agenda2018 event series. For many of our customers, maintaining trade links with the UK is vital to their growth ambition. As part of RBS, Ulster Bank is especially well placed to support customers in this area. Working with the Chamber provides an excellent platform to support businesses in every region of the UK and Ireland as they look to 2019 and beyond.”

Brian Daly, Head of Brexit at KPMG in Ireland, said: “KPMG is delighted to be a co-sponsor of #Agenda2018 taking place across Ireland and Britain. As the largest professional service firm in Ireland and with a network of offices across Britain, we see great value in supporting and facilitating dialogue on the key issues affecting business. Whilst Brexit dominates many discussions, it is far from the only agenda item for business at the moment. The programme of events that the Chamber has put together for #Agenda2018 will provide an important opportunity for discussion of a wide range of issues, including Brexit, that create both opportunities and challenges for business in Ireland and the UK at the moment.”

Information on #Agenda2018 can be seen here. You can also livestream the events here.