Teamwork key for new CBS president

The new president of the Cork Business Association (CBA), entrepreneur Ernest Cantillon, says that co-operation will be the theme of his presidency.

Mr Cantillon who is the owner of the Electric cafe and restaurant as well as the Sober Lane bar said that working closer with City Hall to achieve the goals of businesses and council would be one of his priorities.

In particular, Mr Cantillon said that the council’s tourism, enterprise, arts and marketing (Team) section had developed extremely good links with the business community.

“Traditionally, there was an ‘us and them’ attitude between the business community and City Hall. Now it is a much more open relationship and things that used to take years to be done, are now happening in weeks,” said Mr Cantillon. He pointed to the example of his predecessor, Tom Durcan, who he said had achieved a great success on the issue of parking in the city centre in conjunction with City Hall.

Mr Cantillon said that he was hoping that in conjunction with the Cork Team group the business community would be able to capitalise on the number of cruise liners visiting the city.

“Businesses need to be able to put a package together including a show in the Triskel or the Opera House and a meal as well as a night in a hotel to capitalise on the visitors passing through Cork,” he said.