Ibec has opened a new office serving the western region in Galway's Eyre Square.
The employers group hosted its annual Budget Briefing and officially opened the Hibernian House office before an audience of local members and TDs.
Minister of State Hildegarde Naughton, TDs Alan Dillon and Noel Grealish, and presidential candidate Catherine Connolly were among those gathered.
At the Budget Briefing event, Ibec's western members highlighted how the region’s unique quality of life is being undermined by housing constraints and delays or uncertainty around key infrastructural projects such as the N6 Galway Ring Road, the N5 upgrade, and Atlantic Corridor projects.
They also stressed the need for improved rail and bus connectivity.
The meeting noted that Budget 2026 must balance global uncertainty with measures to boost agility, support productivity, futureproof capital projects, and strengthen fiscal resilience.
Speaking at the event, Ibec CEO Danny McCoy said: “Ibec’s investment in Galway underlines our longstanding commitment to the West.
"It ensures that businesses here will continue to benefit from strong local support while also being fully connected to Ibec’s national and international networks.
"It is fitting that one of the first meetings hosted in our new office was with members of the Oireachtas and the business community in the context of Budget 2026.
"There are major opportunities ahead for the West, and while Budget 2026 must balance public finances against a backdrop of global uncertainty, it is important to see tangible progress on key infrastructural projects, where regions such as the West could benefit greatly.”
Kevin Feighery, regional director of Ibec, added: "The Western office has always played a vital role, offering expert HR and industrial relations advice, and ensuring that the needs of businesses in our region are heard loud and clear on the issues that matter most.
"Ibec’s legacy in the region speaks to decades of partnership, advocacy, and service to employers and communities across Connacht.
"The businesses we work with every day represent the diversity of sectors in our region, from large employers to smaller local enterprises, from Irish-owned companies to multinationals, spanning MedTech, technology, engineering, food and beverages, and many more.
"Today is not just about a new premises; it is about renewed ambition and renewed confidence in the future of enterprise in the West of Ireland, and the vital role Ibec’s Western office plays within that.”
(Pic: Michael Dillon)
