High profile, Cork-based property and retail developer, Owen O’Callaghan has told Newstalk he would consider moving his business base from Cork, if current potential proposals to merge Cork City and County Councils, are implemented by government.

A government-appointed Cork Local Government Review Group, under the chairmanship of former Beamish boss, Alf Smiddy, is due to report to government later this month.

It’s widely reported in Cork that a small majority of the group favours amalgamation of both Cork Councils.

Owen O’ Callaghan strongly supports the alternative proposal: that Cork City Council remains autonomous and actually increases its territory and population to more than 250,000 people, thereby becoming a more significant second city and a balance to the economic power of the Greater Dublin Area.

Speaking to Down to Business he said that if the councils come together he will be prepared to move his business to the capital.