Central Bank Governor meets Offaly business leaders during Tullamore visit

THE Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland, Gabriel Makhlouf, met with members of the Tullamore & District Chamber of Commerce, Tullamore Credit Union and local business owners in Tullamore last week to discuss Ireland’s economic outlook and the challenges facing businesses in the region.
The meeting provided an opportunity for open discussion on key macroeconomic issues, including inflation, interest rates and credit conditions. Additionally, a discussion took place pertaining to the local property market, infrastructure ,bitcoin and the broader impacts on small and medium-sized enterprises.
Governor Makhlouf said the visit was part of the Central Bank’s ongoing effort to engage directly with communities and businesses across the country.
“I enjoyed meeting owners and representatives of businesses from across Offaly while I was in Tullamore,” he said. “It’s important that the Central Bank listens to and engages with people all around Ireland and that our work is informed by real-life experiences and viewpoints. Our job is to maintain financial stability, and to do that, we need to understand the impact of our policies on people’s lives. We are acutely aware of that impact and the discussions I had in Offaly will be invaluable to us.”
Opening the evening's discussion, Paul Shaw CEO of Tullamore Credit Union posed a series of questions and offered perspectives on the property market and development trends in Tullamore and its neighbouring areas. 
During the session, business owners highlighted the pressures of rising costs, staffing shortages, and the need for continued investment in regional infrastructure to support local enterprise. 

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Chamber representatives described the meeting as a valuable opportunity to share the realities facing businesses on the ground directly with Ireland’s top financial policymaker.
The President of Tullamore & District Chamber Caroline Collins Murphy  said the visit underscored the importance of collaboration between policymakers and the business community.
Having the Governor here in person to hear directly from local employers was hugely positive,” Caroline said. “These conversations ensure that national economic policy reflects what’s really happening in places like Tullamore.”
The visit forms part of the Central Bank’s wider engagement programme, which aims to ensure that regional voices are represented in economic policy discussions.

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