Kevin Foley

The Cost of Business Advisory Forum, which brings together business owners, retailers, tourism operators, accounting professionals and representative groups alongside regulators and State agencies, met for the first time yesterday.

Mr Foley chaired the Labour Court from 2016 until earlier this year. The new group is vice-chaired by Ronan Byrne, manager of Bloomfield Hotel.

Enterprise, tourism and employment minister Peter Burke said: “I’ve been looking forward to the first meeting of the Cost of Business Advisory Forum, and hearing directly from the people who run businesses, employ our citizens and keep our economy strong.

“I believe it is important for our regulators, our government departments and our decision-makers to hear directly from this key cohort, the people that are at the coal face when we implement policy and regulations.

“I want to thank Mr Kevin Foley, former chair of the Labour Court, and Mr Ronan Byrne, general manager of Bloomfield Hotel, for agreeing to be our chairperson and vice-chairperson, respectively.

“This Forum is about balance and reflecting all sectors of business, and ensuring all voices are heard in this important discussion.

“After our initial meeting, each subsequent session will focus on a specific theme, like licensing, infrastructure, or regulatory fees, with the relevant regulators invited to attend and respond.

“The goal is to create a space where businesses can speak directly to decision-makers about the real-world impact of rules and charges — and identify areas to make practical changes.”