Business leaders laud ‘rising tide’ of vulnerable economy

Some of the country’s most prominent business leaders have warned against squandering the country’s vulnerable economic recovery in the general election.

Tyco Ireland general manager Donal Sullivan said “good stewardship of the economy” had lifted the economic doom and gloom that enveloped the country when the last government took office.

“Four or five years ago it was depressing.

"So, the depression has lifted and you have to say by good stewardship of the economy and now we’re on a rising tide.

"I would say keep that tide rising, if I could give you any advice.

"I’m not going to tell you which party to vote for but anyone that puts that in jeopardy won’t get mine,” Mr Sullivan said.

Musgrave Retail Partners managing director, Martin Kelleher said a healthy economy is one of the main catalysts of consumer confidence which has helped its business grow over the past number of years.

Musgrave’s Supervalu and Centra stores are targeting 50% online growth this year after an increase of 30% in 2015, he added.

Greencore chief executive, Patrick Coveney agreed that voters would be “mad to put the recovery at risk”.

His fear after the election is that the country could be left with a fragile government made up of a lot of people with local and national vested interests.

The outgoing government had delivered an unprecedented economic recovery that has been more remarkable than the Celtic Tiger, Mr Coveney added.

The business leaders were speaking at the UCC Commerce Society business conference at the Kingsley Hotel in Cork.