Group’s Cork merger support ‘dependent on maintaining city’s status’

The head of an influential business association on the outskirts of Cork said his members still back a merger of the city and county councils, but only if the Government gives cast-iron guarantees about maintaining the city’s status.

Michael Mulcahy, the CEO of the Little Island Business Association, was speaking yesterday after a meeting with the city council to discuss the continuing fallout from the Cork Local Government Review (CLGR) group’s controversial merger report.

The business group represents 673 members employing up to 15,000 people. It includes some of Cork’s largest employers including Lilly, Jansen, Pfizer, Laya, GE Healthcare, and BAM Contractors, and also represents several SMEs. Combined, they generate up to €30m in annual rates for Cork County Council.