Central Bank boss in tour of the Kingdom

THE Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland, Gabriel Makhlouf, visited Tralee and Killorglin on Friday to meet with local business people and students as part of the Central Bank’s outreach programme.

The bank boss’ Kerry visit saw him visit the new RDI hub in Killorglin as well as the Institute of Technology in Tralee and Mercy Mounthawk Secondary School in the county capital.

Throughout the year, as part of the outreach programme, the Governor and staff from the Central Bank travel the length breadth of the country to hear views from a cross-section of people within Irish society.

The idea behind the programme is to help the heads of the Central Bank develop a better understanding of the issues affecting businesses and communities across Ireland and to inform them of the work of the Central Bank.

The Kerry visit – the bank Governor’s first since taking office – began in Killorglin’s RDI Hub, where Mr Makhlouf heard about the organisation’s work to drive job creation and facilitate research and development in the financial technology sector.

The Governor said he wanted to see the space which, he said, will help position Kerry as an Artificial Intelligence and Fintech hotspot across Europe.

Following his tour, Governor Makhlouf spent time with RDI Hub members to discuss key challenges, risks and opportunities within Ireland’s fintech ecosystem.

CEO of the RDI Hub Leo Cronin said it was an honour to welcome the Governor of the Central Bank to RDI Hub.

“This visit signals the national focus on regional opportunities. We are ambitious for the quality of companies that we will attract to the hub, which will be world-class in terms of the facilities and support programmes on offer,” he said.

“RDI Hub, which is a notfor-profit public private partnership, will create over 305 direct jobs by 2024, and in this initial period plans to support the establishment of over 35 high-tech funded start-ups,” added Mr Cronin.

After his visit to the RDI Hub, Mr Makhlouf and his team travelled to Tralee to meet with students at Mercy Mounthawk Secondary School and to visit Institute of Technology Tralee.

At the school and college, he took the opportunity to explain the workings of the Central Bank to students and took questions on the economy and the labour market.

At Mercy Mounthawk – where Mr Makhlouf delivered what was surely the most high-profile Economics class ever given at the school – the Central Bank head also presented the school with a specially minted commemorative coin.

During his visit to Tralee, Governor Makhlouf also met with representatives from the Kerry Business Women’s Network and visited the Tom Crean Business Incubation Centre, where he heard about business development in the county.

Governor Makhlouf said he was pleased to visit Kerry and meet people from the county.

“Through our outreach programme, we engage with people from all over Ireland to listen to what is important to them and to their communities, particularly in relation to areas where the work of the Central Bank affects their lives,” he said.

“Hearing the perspectives of the next generation is always valuable, and I particularly enjoyed the opportunity today to meet some of Kerry’s younger citizens — students from Mounthawk Secondary School and Tralee IT to answer their questions about the work of the bank and the wider economy,” Mr Makhlouf said.

“I was also interested to learn about the RDI Hub, and discuss the work done by the Central Bank’s Innovation Hub,” he added.

Domnick Walsh All photos Bridget Fitzgerald of Kerry County Council; Chief Executive Kerry County Council Moira Murrell, Governor of the Central Bank Gabriel Makhlouf; CEO of RDI Hub Killorglin Liam O’Cronin, and Community and Members Manager at the RDI Hub Reidin O’Connor.

Members of the Kerry Businesswomen’s Network with Central Bank Governor Gabrial Makhlouf at Friday’s lunch meeting at the Ballygarry House Hotel.

Central Bank Governor Gabriel Makhlouf chats with Orla Diffily (standing) and Elin Sorenson at the lunch meeting on Friday at Ballygarry House Hotel, hosted by the Kerry Businesswomen’s Network.

The Central Bank Governor Gabrial Makhlouf gives a presentation on the bank’s work to senior Economics students at Tralee’s Mercy Mounthawk Secondary School.

All photos by Domnick Walsh Killorglin RDI Hub CEO Liam Cronin gives Central Bank Governor Gabriel Makhlouf a tour of the new facility.

Fiona Boyle of the AgriTech Centre of Excellence and IT Tralee Vice President Bríd McElligott with Mr Makhlouf during a tour of the Tom Crean Centre .