Politicians and voters need to think beyond the five-year term of the Dáil and to look instead towards 2050, according to incoming president of  Dublin Chamber of Commerce.

“The government of the day often finds itself playing catch-up on legacy issues that previous governments have kicked down the road,” said Derry Gray, a partner at the consultancy firm BDO and incoming president of Dublin Chamber of Commerce.

“It is timely to decide with this election the future for Ireland for the next half century. As voters, we need to ask the candidates for their vision for the country and their plan to deliver it.

“By 2050 there will be no excuse but to hold up the failure to prioritise or follow through for the major projects of change necessary to meet the needs of a population of nearly seven million people," Gray added.

Gray told the organisation’s AGM dinner that Dublin and other urban centres will drive Ireland’s growth. However they are reliant on the housing, infrastructure, traffic management and services which must compare favourably with our international competitor cities.

In Association with

Critical Plans

According to Gray: “In reality, the people of Ireland do not need more short term promises when it is the critical larger, long-term plans that fall between the cracks. Thirty years later we are still waiting on the National Children’s Hospital, the DART interconnector, the airport link to the city and a secure water supply for the East.

“These projects are examples of the longer term, integrated planning that is required if we are to actually realise a world class Dublin to drive the national economy.”

Gray noted that Ireland's quarterly GDP is higher than the peak in late 2007, and it continues to grow steadily. “Dublin Chamber has over 1,300 companies in membership and represents over 300,000 people engaged in those businesses that have made this transition and further growth possible," said Gray.

Photo: Derry Gray with Gina Quin (left), CEO of Dublin Chamber, and Glanbia boss Siobhan Talbot, keynote speaker at the event. (Pic: Conor McCabe)