Minister Jack Chambers and economist Jim Power headline national business gathering focused on competitiveness, SMEs and “Trusted Business Leadership”

Kinsale, Co. Cork | September 2026

Business leaders from across Ireland will gather in Kinsale on Friday, 9 October for the sold-out Kinsale Budget Breakfast Briefing 2027, bringing Government, business, accountancy, and the SME community together following Budget 2027.

Headlined by Minister Jack Chambers TD and leading independent economist Jim Power, the event at Kinsale Hotel & Spa will examine competitiveness, taxation, the cost of doing business, housing, infrastructure, skills, regulation, technology, AI and the outlook for Irish enterprise.

Held under the theme “Trusted Business Leadership”, the conference was founded by Cormac Fitzgerald FCPA FCA, Managing Director of Fitzgerald & Partners Chartered Accountants, together with Jim Power, to connect national economic debate with the practical realities facing Irish businesses.

Cormac Fitzgerald, conference chair and a member of the Board and National Council of ISME, said:

“The fact that this year’s conference has sold out demonstrates the appetite for constructive discussion about Ireland’s economic direction.

“For SMEs, competitiveness is about much more than one Budget. Costs, taxation, housing, infrastructure, skills, and regulation all influence whether businesses have the confidence to invest, recruit and grow.

“Strong businesses help build strong communities, and that has always been at the heart of this event.”

The speaker line-up also includes Crona Clohisey, Director of Advocacy at Chartered Accountants Ireland; Pat Lordan, former Head of the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau; Professor Conor Deasy of Cork University Hospital; David Swinburne, Chair of Chartered Accountants Ireland Cork Society; and MC and moderator Ann-Marie O’Sullivan.

A centrepiece will be an Executive Fireside Chat – Trusted Business Leadership, bringing together Minister Chambers, Jim Power, Crona Clohisey and Cormac Fitzgerald.

The event has a strong charitable and community focus. Kinsale Hotel & Spa is providing the venue and breakfast without charge, nobody involved in the morning is being paid, and proceeds support the local community. The event has generated more than €100,000 for community causes over the years.

This year’s charity raffle will support Kinsale Your Support Services (KYSS) and its work supporting positive mental health locally.

Kinsale Budget Breakfast Briefing 2027 – Trusted Business Leadership

Friday, 9 October 2026 | 8.00 a.m. | Kinsale Hotel & Spa

www.kinsalelionsonline.com for more details