During a recent visit to the European Parliament in Brussels, doors were opened for Irish businesses from across the Midlands-North West constituency, MEP Maria Walsh has said.
MEP Walsh hosted a group of business owners from across the West of Ireland in the European Parliament where they discussed the resources and supports available to Irish SMEs at a European level. The group met with a range of stakeholders, including Commissioner Mairead McGuiness.
Maria Walsh, MEP for Midlands-North West, said:
“I invited leaders from SMEs, enterprise and digital hubs to join me in Brussels to see first-hand how many opportunities there are for Irish businesses in the EU. The door is wide open for our indigenous entrepreneurs to utilise the common market as well as the funding and resources provided by Europe.
“It’s brilliant to have businesses from the West of Ireland, led by the fantastic PorterShed based in Galway, meeting with European leaders face-to-face. The concerns and opportunities for Irish business owners were raised, which will in turn influence the work of officials and politicians in the European institutions – ensuring that the economy, businesses and communities of the West of Ireland are accounted for and reflected in European policy.”
JJ O’Hara, CEO of Future Cast, Leitrim, said:
“I see Europe is open for the development of Irish SMEs. It is now about our region developing the knowledge of the funding and supports within the European ecosystem and working closely with our MEPs to develop the vision of the Midlands-North West region under EU Policy.”
Barry Dooney, Senior Innovation Catalyst at the PorterShed Innovation Centre, Galway, said:
“Participating in the discussions in the EU Parliament was an enlightening experience. It highlighted the power of unity in the tech innovation ecosystem and the importance of strategic engagement with policy-makers. As we carve out the future of innovation in the West and North-West of Ireland, we’re grateful for the support and keen insights from MEP Maria Walsh. This visit has catalysed our commitment to fostering a dynamic Innovation Cluster in the West and North-West that will serve as a valuable lever for tech entrepreneurship and cross-European collaboration.”
