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The Dublin Chamber Of Commerce: 5 Crucial Policy Battles Shaping Ireland's Capital In 2025

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The Dublin Chamber of Commerce (DCC) stands as the most influential voice for business in Ireland's capital, and as of late 2025, its agenda is more critical than ever, focusing on navigating major economic and infrastructural challenges. The Chamber is not merely a networking body; it is a powerful advocacy group actively lobbying Government and local authorities on issues that directly impact the city's competitiveness, from global investment policies to the very flow of traffic and water. Its new 2025-2029 Strategy outlines a vision centered on a sustainable, connected, and livable Dublin, setting the stage for a period of intense policy engagement.

The Chamber's current work, driven by direct feedback from its vast network of member companies, is focused on high-stakes battles that will define Dublin's economic profile for the next decade. From the controversial debate surrounding the Dublin Airport passenger cap to championing multi-billion-euro infrastructure projects, the DCC is at the forefront of shaping the capital’s future. This deep dive explores the leadership, strategy, and five most crucial policy priorities that are dominating the Chamber’s focus in late 2025.

Dublin Chamber Leadership: The Key Figures for 2025

The strategic direction and powerful advocacy of the Dublin Chamber are spearheaded by a dedicated team of business leaders and executives. This leadership is responsible for translating the concerns of its members—ranging from major multinational corporations to local SMEs—into actionable policy and lobbying campaigns at the highest levels of Irish government.

  • CEO: Mary Rose Burke. As the Chief Executive Officer, Mary Rose Burke is the public face and operational leader of the Dublin Chamber. She is frequently quoted on national and international business matters, advocating for the Chamber's position on everything from housing and infrastructure to international trade. Burke has been a strong proponent of maintaining Ireland's "firmly open for business" stance, even welcoming Chinese investment within EU rules.
  • President (2025 Council): While the Presidency is a rotating annual role, the Chamber's Council for 2025 features prominent figures like David Kelly, Executive Director of Customer & Business Development at Gas Networks Ireland, who serves as the Vice President. The Council, which includes leaders from major Irish and international firms, provides the strategic oversight and policy direction for the Chamber's extensive work programme.
  • Policy Development: The Chamber's policy campaign activity is guided by its quarterly Business Trends Survey, which provides real-time insights into member priorities, ensuring that its lobbying efforts are always relevant and up-to-date with current business sentiment.

The 2025-2029 Strategic Vision: Sustainability, Placemaking, and Connectivity

The Dublin Chamber’s latest four-year strategy, running from 2025 to 2029, is a comprehensive roadmap designed to enhance the capital’s global competitiveness while addressing quality of life issues. The vision is built on three interconnected pillars that reflect the complex needs of a rapidly growing European capital.

1. Sustainability and Green Transition

In line with national and EU climate targets, the Chamber has placed a significant focus on the green transition. This includes supporting initiatives that help Dublin businesses decarbonise and promoting Ireland as a leader in renewable energy technology. A major, recent initiative highlighting this focus is the "Ireland to Japan: A Route to New Green Partnerships," which involves organising a Green Business Mission to Japan. This mission aims to connect Irish SMEs with Japanese buyers, distributors, and R&D partners, particularly in the smart energy and renewable technology sectors, leveraging the keen interest from Japan's largest companies in Ireland’s renewable energy potential.

2. Placemaking and Urban Livability

Placemaking is a key element of the 2025-2029 strategy, focusing on creating a more attractive, adaptive, and high-quality urban environment. This aligns closely with the concept of the "15-Minute City," a model promoted by the Eastern & Midland Regional Assembly, which aims to ensure residents can access most of their daily needs within a short walk or cycle. The Chamber's advocacy in this area supports better public spaces, improved cultural amenities, and a more inclusive urban landscape, recognising that a high quality of life is essential for attracting and retaining global talent.

3. Connectivity and Infrastructure

Connectivity encompasses both physical and digital infrastructure. The Chamber is a relentless advocate for strategic national infrastructure projects that are essential for Dublin’s continued economic growth. This is where some of the Chamber’s most high-profile policy battles are currently being waged, particularly concerning transport and utility capacity.

5 Crucial Policy Battles Defining Dublin’s Future in 2025

The Dublin Chamber's policy priorities are not abstract; they are concrete, high-impact campaigns aimed at removing bottlenecks and unlocking the city's potential. Here are five of the most critical issues dominating the Chamber’s advocacy in late 2025:

  1. The Battle to Remove the Dublin Airport Passenger Cap.

    This is arguably the Chamber's highest-profile campaign. The current passenger cap limits annual traffic at Dublin Airport (DUB) to 32 million passengers, a restriction the Chamber argues is severely damaging to tourism, trade, and Ireland’s international connectivity. The Chamber has strongly welcomed the late 2025 move by Transport Minister Darragh O'Brien to secure Cabinet approval to pursue legislation to remove the cap. The Chamber views the cap’s removal as a non-negotiable step to allow the airport to function as a vital economic gateway and prevent further cuts to airline slots that impact the winter season.

  2. Accelerating the Greater Dublin Drainage (GDD) Scheme.

    The GDD Project is a €1.3 billion national infrastructure project led by Uisce Éireann (formerly Irish Water), designed to provide a new regional wastewater treatment facility to service North Dublin, as well as parts of Meath and Kildare. The Chamber has made the completion of the GDD Scheme by its 2030 target a core policy priority. This project is critical not only for environmental compliance but also for facilitating new housing and commercial development in the capital region, which is currently constrained by inadequate drainage capacity.

  3. Completing the Eastern and Midlands Water Supply Project.

    Complementary to the GDD, the Chamber is pushing for the timely delivery of the Eastern and Midlands Water Supply Project. This scheme is vital for securing a long-term, sustainable water source for the Greater Dublin Area, mitigating the risks of water shortages that could cripple business operations and residential development. The Chamber’s advocacy ensures this essential utility infrastructure remains high on the Government’s agenda.

  4. Advocating for the '15-Minute City' Concept.

    The DCC is actively supporting the implementation of planning policies that facilitate the "15-Minute City" model. This involves lobbying for mixed-use zoning, better public transport links, and investment in local amenities to create self-sufficient, vibrant urban villages. The goal is to reduce commuting times, improve employee well-being, and lower the carbon footprint of the Dublin region, all of which are critical for business sustainability and talent attraction.

  5. Championing International Trade and Investment.

    The Chamber continues to act as a crucial bridge for international business. In late 2025, it reiterated its position that Ireland is "firmly open for business within EU rules," a statement designed to reassure global investors that the capital remains an attractive and stable location for foreign direct investment (FDI). Initiatives like the Japan Green Business Mission are practical examples of the Chamber’s role in opening new markets and fostering international green partnerships, particularly in high-growth sectors like renewable energy and technology.

The Future of Dublin: A Business-Led Blueprint

The Dublin Chamber of Commerce is more than a representative body; it is a co-architect of Dublin’s future. Through its 2025-2029 Strategy, the Chamber has laid out a clear, ambitious blueprint for a capital city that is not only economically dynamic but also environmentally sustainable and functionally connected. By focusing on high-impact policy priorities—such as removing the Dublin Airport cap, accelerating major drainage and water projects, and championing placemaking—the DCC is ensuring that the voice of business remains central to every major decision affecting life and commerce in Ireland’s capital.

The coming years will test the Chamber’s advocacy strength, particularly as debates over infrastructure, housing, and climate policy intensify. However, armed with its quarterly Business Trends Survey data and the support of its extensive membership, the Dublin Chamber of Commerce is well-positioned to drive the change necessary to secure Dublin's status as a leading global city.

The Dublin Chamber of Commerce: 5 Crucial Policy Battles Shaping Ireland's Capital in 2025
dublin chamber of commerce ireland
dublin chamber of commerce ireland

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