Retirement of Tom Clarke as Chairman of Plato

Mary Harney, Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment today (Friday 3rd March 2000) paid tribute to Mr. Tom Clarke who is retiring as Chairman of Plato Ireland where he has held that position since 1993.

Plato is an initiative based on a network principle whereby large companies known as parent companies, help and support small companies in their area and create a structure for small companies to co-operate with each other.

Speaking at a lunch in his honour in the Kingswood County House Hotel, Naas the Tánaiste said "The success of Plato owes much to Tom's vision and foresight of the potential of the Plato programme and to his on-going encouragement and drive. Tom took the risk of bringing Plato to Ireland and as such has introduced a new training methodology for Small and Medium Enterprise's (SMEs) that has proven to be one of the most successful SME initiatives in Ireland.

"Tom is a unique member of the business community in his involvement and work with Area Partnerships, the South Dublin Chamber, the Schools Business Partnership, the Science Park, Plato, Get Tallaght Working, the Tallaght Trust Fund the CCI and Tallaght IT.

"He personally has also involved his company, Gallaghers, where he is Operations Director. They have sponsored events, their managers have been group leaders, talked to new businesses, were frequent guest speakers at Plato group meetings, and are the major sponsor of a new Enterprise Centre in Bolbrook which is a unique training centre, office facilities and enterprise incubation space.

"Tom was instrumental in engaging the support of the two leading business organizations IBEC and CCI which has set the groundwork for new structures for Plato Ireland. This business support scheme will give a sustainable long-tern structure for the Plato programme and is the completion of Toms vision for a national sustainable business led framework where large companies throughout the country contribute in a new and active way to the growth of small business in Ireland".

The Tánaiste thanked Tom for his hard work and dedication to the Plato Programme and wished him every success in the future.