Patrick O'Donovan, TD

In advance of travelling to Belfast this morning for the opening of Talks with the Northern Ireland Executive parties, Minister Flanagan said:

It is fair in that lifts 80,000 low paid people out of the tax net; and it provides for thousands of much-needed social housing units to be built over coming years.

Over five hundred small business owners and managers today (Thursday) attended a one-stop-shop event for SMEs, ‘Taking Care of Business’, in The Printworks, Dublin Castle.

appraisal has been done to determine the extent to which infrastructure required in the context of job creation is deficient in various regions throughout the country

economy continues to be competitive in terms of attraction of new investment and encouraging indigenous investment

economic and/or unemployment black spots have been identified throughout the country

encourage economic recovery broadly throughout the country

innovation and technology continue to contribute to national recovery with particular reference to the extent to which industry here has been in a position to access and avail of advances in this area including relevant EU grant aid

identified major fundamental issues affecting investment and job creation which might need prioritisation to facilitate maximum economic benefit

innovation and technology to feature in job restoration at various economic black spots throughout the country