Finance Minister praises Lions Club as 'an intrinsic part of the local community here in Kinsale'

While the economy is booming, Government is “acutely aware” of pressures the cost of living is placing upon families, Finance Minister Jack Chambers has told a business conference in Cork.

Mr Chambers was the keynote speaker at a business conference hosted by the Kinsale and District Lions Club at the Kinsale Hotel and Spa on Friday morning.

He added that when designing Budget 2025, which contained measures worth over €10.5 billion, Government had tried to prioritise investment in communities and public service while also supporting families, workers and businesses.

Mr Chambers said that while the economy’s “macro indicators are positive”, Government was well aware that “high costs of everyday goods continue to place a significant burden on families”.

In a nod to his hosts, the finance minister added: “I suspect the Lions Club members who are helping and assisting families on a daily and weekly basis will attest to this”.

“For this reason, we included a cost of living package of €2.2 billion to support the most impacted by elevated costs and to ease the burden of those struggling with heightened prices.” 

Mr Chambers praised the Lions Club as “an intrinsic part of the local community here in Kinsale”, thanking its members for organising the conference.

“As everyone here can attest, the Lions Club is a global volunteer phenomenon that makes an incredibly important impact in local communities, up and down the country,” he said.

“You perform vital services that build connections and support broader initiatives to tackle some of the most difficult and challenging issues that we face as a society.

“You have been a constant and reassuring presence in the lives of some of the most vulnerable people for the past 31 years.

“And this morning I can clearly see that after three decades your enthusiasm, commitment and dedication is undimmed,” the finance minister added.

The business conference attracted an array of attendees from across the community, as well as the business, agricultural, fishing and SME sectors, alongside local groups and organisations and members of the emergency services, who gathered to hear from guest speakers.

Cormac Fitzgerald, president of the Kinsale Lions Club, said the club’s members had been deeply grateful to everyone who had contributed to the business conference.

“It was an inspiring morning of discussion and engagement, and we are thrilled to support such a worthy cause.

“Our club remains dedicated to leading initiatives that support both our local communities,” Mr Fitzgerald said.

During his visit to Kinsale, the finance minister officially launched a new video promoting positive mental health, which had been put together by the Kinsale Your Support Services group.

He also visited Kinsale Community School, going on to lay a wreath as part of a commemoration in the local Garden of Remembrance to honour the 343 New York firefighters who died in the 9/11 attacks.