Agri-sector shows largest jobs rate increase – Comiskey

Fine Gael Sligo/Leitrim Senator and Seanad Spokesperson on Agriculture, Michael Comiskey, has welcomed the announcement by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) that 25,000 jobs in the agriculture, fishing and forestry sectors have been created in the last twelve months. Senator Comiskey’s comments were made following the release of the Central Statistics Office Quarterly National Household Survey Quarter 3 2013 report which showed that a total of 58,000 jobs have been created in the last year.

“This CSO report takes us up to the end of September 2013 and shows that almost 5,000 jobs a month are being created. This is hugely encouraging and shows that this Government’s plan to get Ireland working again is having a significant impact. The creation of 58,000 jobs in the last year is a welcome change to the situation under the last Government where 80,000 jobs per year were being lost in the private sector.

“I am particularly pleased that the agriculture, forestry and fishing sectors are proving particularly strong. This is important as we continue towards achieving our Harvest 2020 targets which seeks to attain a critical mass of Irish products in key international markets.

“The pro-jobs Budget announced on October 15^th by Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan, contained measures which will, I believe, further incentivise small and large businesses to create jobs in Ireland in 2014. There were 25 separate measures to support job creation as part of a €500 million pro-jobs package in Budget 2014 which will help us build on the excellent progress being made.

“Continued growth in the agriculture, forestry and fishing sectors is particularly important as research has shown that investment in agriculture produces far bigger returns than investment in other sectors. That is because agriculture sources 71% of raw materials and services from Irish suppliers, compared to 44% for all manufacturing companies.

“The unemployment rate has dropped from 13.6% to 12.8% between July and September of this year. While we still have a long way to go, these figures show that we are moving firmly in the right direction. Ireland has experienced a fall in unemployment for the last 16 months in a row and is about to regain its economic independence by exiting the bailout. With a budget in place for next year which will further incentivise job creation, I firmly believe that we are heading in the right direction.”