Minister Kelleher Launches the Lansdowne Club 2010 Club Directory and is Guest Speaker at the St Patrick’s Day Lunch
Minister Kelleher today, (Friday 19th March 2010) was the guest speaker at the Lansdowne Club’s annual St Patrick’s Day lunch in Sydney the largest business networking lunch in Australia with over 1200 people present.
The lunch was also attended by the Premier of New South Wales, Mrs Kristina Keneally and other Federal and State politicians.
The Minister told guests that we are all acutely aware that the world’s economic landscape has changed dramatically in the last couple of years. Ireland is no exception to this however, notwithstanding these difficulties, the Irish economy continues to retain many of its underlying strengths.
Minister Kelleher emphasised how the Government are committed to stabilising our economy and dealing with the economic crisis. He explained how the Government have stabilised the public finances (through the combination of measures in the 2009 and 2010 Budgets) and have set out a framework to reduce the General Government deficit to less that 3% of GDP by 2014. He also outlined the measures being taken to stabilise banking and how the Government are taking steps to improve competitiveness, boost exports and to foster sustainable employment.
The Minister also spoke of the value of the Irish Diaspora across the world and in particular the role that networks such as the Lansdowne club can play in our economic recovery. The Irish Community abroad is one of our strongest assets and the Minister stated how the Irish abroad can play a major role in our efforts towards economic recovery.
The Minister praised the work of the State Agencies and he thanked the Lansdowne Club for the support and networking opportunities afforded to the Irish enterprise agencies in Sydney and throughout Australia. This event follows a series of high profile events throughout the week, which showcased Ireland as a destination of choice for both tourism and inward investment.
The Minister then launched the Tenth Edition of the Club Directory which is seen as a major networking tool for those doing business in the region.
ENDS/TC423
Notes for Editors:
The Lansdowne Club is the premier Irish Business Network in Sydney. It was established in 1986 and has continued to grow in strength since then.
The Club provides a framework for members to establish and build business contacts throughout New South Wales. It also works closely with the Irish-Australian Chamber of Commerce in Melbourne and other such Irish business organisations in Adelaide, Perth and Canberra.
Today the Lansdowne Club boasts a membership of almost 1,000; a chapter of the Club was formed in Brisbane in 2008 with funds provided by Sydney. The Club was initially formed to support Irish born business people in Sydney but now membership comprises both Irish and Australian business contacts.
The Consul-General in Sydney is a member of the Club’s Board of Directors, as is the Ambassador in Canberra, and the Consul-General attends the Board meetings which are held in the Consulate Boardroom about every two-months. The state agencies are also represented on the Board.
ENDS
Last modified: 19/03/2010
| © 2011 Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation | Privacy Statement |
,
