Update: Job Creation 15th July 2014
15th July 2014 - Bernard Durkan TD
DAIL QUESTION
NO. 91 & 95
To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which the protection of existing jobs and the creation of new jobs continues to be successful with particular reference to policy in this regard for the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
– Bernard J. Durkan.
* For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 10th July, 2014.
Ref No: 30605/14
To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the degree to which he and his Department continue to monitor potential obstacles to job creation and/or retention here; if any particular initiatives are required to address specific issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
– Bernard J. Durkan.
* For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 10th July, 2014.
Ref No: 30610/14
R E P L Y
Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (Mr Bruton)
I propose to take Questions 91 and 95 together.
When this Government came into office, it had inherited a situation where more than 250,000 private sector jobs had been lost in the previous three years. This was primarily the result of relying on economic growth fuelled by a construction sector bubble and unsustainable consumption.
The Government set about transforming the economy on a number of fronts, including fixing the banking systems, reforming the public sector and embedding a jobs agenda right across Government through the Action Plan for Jobs process.
The aim of the Action Plan is to improve the operating environment for business and address key factors which can act as obstacles to job creation and retention. These factors include issues such as access to finance, administrative burdens on business, the need to improve company capability, and gaining access to new markets. The Action Plan for Jobs has delivered a range of initiatives to support job creation, develop sectors of potential and improve our competitiveness. We are also building a strong enterprise mix to ensure that Ireland is not overly reliant on a limited number of sectors for future growth.
While the task has been significant, we are making progress. We are climbing back up the international competitiveness rankings again and the latest CSO Quarterly National Household Survey showed that over 63,000 jobs have been created since the Action Plan for Jobs process was introduced at the start of 2012. In 2013, Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland recorded the strongest employment growth in a decade amongst their client companies, while 2014 has shown a continued flow of new job announcements.
The Government will continue to work towards its target of having an extra 100,000 people at work by 2016 through the Action Plan for Jobs process, and work will commence shortly on preparing the Action Plan for 2015.
Bernard Durkan TD
Kildare NorthBernard J Durkan is the Fine Gael spokesperson on Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform. Originally from Killasser, Co Mayo,…
Related news
Sinn Féin reach new low exploiting Covid diagnosis in Dáil vote
Fine Gael’s most senior TD, Bernard Durkan, has said Sinn Féin have displayed a terrible lack of decency and reached…
12th July 2022Agency should be tasked with monitoring alleged price gouging by service providers – Durkan
A government agency should be tasked with monitoring price increases across utility and service providers to ensure fairness and transparency…
24th June 2022Questions remain about National Lottery’s new 'must-win' prize game – Durkan
The National Lottery’s newly announced ‘must-win prize’ is an acknowledgement that the 6-month rollover is unsustainable, but questions remain regarding…
15th December 2021