Central Bank Governor pays visit to county

Meets with businesses and students

Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland Gabriel Makhlouf met with businesses and students from Tipperary last Wednesday during his day-long visit.

Governor Makhlouf met with local entrepreneurs, staff and Government agencies at Tipperary Technology Park, where conversations included the importance of local digital hubs and local economic development in a hybrid working world recovering from Covid-19.

The Governor discussed the Irish economy and the labour market at a meeting with Network Ireland Tipperary, part of a nationwide organisation, which drives the personal and professional development of women.

During a visit to Tipperary Glass, Governor Makhlouf toured the company’s manufacturing facility, met with staff and discussed the impact of the pandemic on supply chains in particular.

At Gurteen College, the Governor spoke with staff and adult learners about the work of the Central Bank and was given a tour of the working farm.

Commenting after the meetings, Governor Makhlouf said: “I enjoyed meeting owners and representatives of so many businesses in Tipperary today. It’s important that the Central Bank listens to and engages with people all around Ireland and that our work is informed by real-life experiences and viewpoints. Our job is to maintain financial stability, and to do that, we need to understand the impact of our policies on people’s lives. We are acutely aware of that impact and today’s discussion with diverse businesses and sectors will be invaluable to us.

“The focus on sustainability at Gurteen College really spoke to me and is food for thought as my own organisation looks to the future. We’ve just held our first Climate Forum meeting and published our Sustainable Investment Charter, so I was glad to hear and learn from the experience that Gurteen has in this area.”

Principal of Gurteen College, John Parry, added: “Gurteen College is delighted to host the Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland.

“At Gurteen our primary focus is on training the farmers and entrepreneurs of the future, access to robust financial services and confidence in the system will be a vital component in the successful future of Irish agriculture. Students at Gurteen will be the key decision makers running successful businesses in 2050 so this is an ideal opportunity to share ideas and information.

“We hope Governor Makhlouf’s visit will be memorable for our students and for the Governor.”

The visit is one of a series of local events that the Governor will attend around Ireland this year.