Wicklow’s business community will gather in Greystones this Friday morning for a special Breakfast Briefing with Tánaiste Simon Harris.
The event, taking place at The GRID at 9am, is being organised by the East Wicklow Business Network (EWBN) in partnership with Local Enterprise Office Wicklow.
Open to all and free of charge, the briefing will focus on the challenges and opportunities facing Irish businesses at both a local and national level.
During his address, the Tánaiste will share updates on a range of Government initiatives designed to support enterprise growth and job creation.
The morning will also feature insights from Feargal McKenna, co-founder of Pensions Awareness Week and Head of Corporate at Moneycube.ie.
With the Government’s auto-enrolment pension scheme due to begin on January 1st, 2026, he will outline what businesses need to know and how they can best prepare.
McKenna cautions that the upcoming changes will have a significant impact: “Assuming there aren’t further delays, auto-enrolment is due to come into effect in less than three months’ time resulting in a drop in net pay for 800,000 employees and an unavoidable payroll cost for businesses.
“While the payroll cost is unavoidable, businesses have limited time to put alternative arrangements in place that would eliminate the drop in net pay.
“The key is preparation – it is essential that Irish businesses take steps to understand exactly how auto-enrolment will affect their employees, identify who is in scope, and consider if the available alternatives to auto-enrolment would deliver better outcomes for both the business and its employees.”
The event will also hear from Louise Gaskin, incoming Chairperson of EWBN, and Vibeke Delahunt of Local Enterprise Office Wicklow.
With a mix of high-level policy insights and practical advice, Friday’s briefing promises to provide valuable guidance to businesses of all sizes in Wicklow and beyond.
Photo: Simon Harris TD speaking to the media Outside Government Buildings. (Pic: Sam Boal/Collins Photos)
