Speech by the Taoiseach at the IDA Emerging Business Media Event

Events like these help showcase Ireland’s strength as a leading European and global destination for new business and specifically for the technology industry.

This event has been organised by the IDA, who along with Enterprise Ireland, do a stellar job in attracting and building up new business in Ireland.

They also provide a vital support role to the Ministerial team who are busy making the policy changes to improve Ireland’s attractiveness for jobs and investment.

Minister Bruton is just back from the East Coast of the United States where I understand he engaged in 20 bilateral business meetings to encourage the next wave of businesses to locate in Ireland.
However, this evening is about the people here on stage with me.

All of whom are fantastic business leaders and job creators. Their decision to invest in Ireland is a huge vote of confidence in our country as a place of enterprise.

So I would like to individually thank:  

· Jorge and Joanne  from Squarespace  who are expanding their European headquarters with 160 new jobs;
· Neil  from Pond5  who are creating 30 software development jobs in a new operations centre in Dublin;
· Cian from Wave2Wave  who are creating 30 new jobs in their new international headquarters based here;
· Steven  from Amazing.com   which is creating a new Global Support and Technology Development Centre in Ireland with 50 new jobs;
· Ceri from Asana  who are establishing a new operations centre in Dublin with 30 new jobs; and
· Ciaran from  Primary Integration who are creating 20 jobs with a new office in Dublin.

These 320 jobs are a big boost to Ireland’s technology scene and are a testament to the talent available in Ireland.
These companies join the ranks of Ireland’s thriving software sector.

We are already home to over 900 software companies, including both multinational and indigenous firms, employing 24,000 people and generating some €16 billion worth of exports annually.

Digital Skills and Digital Strategy for Schools
If we are to continue to attract the type of investment like that being announced today, we need to ensure that the skills are here in Ireland to allow companies to grow further.

Ireland is achieving a large increase in graduate output from third level ICT courses.

In response to the rapidly developing Cloud sector, Irish educational institutions have developed Cloud Computing masters degrees which are being offered throughout Ireland. These courses have been created in association with industry partners, such as EMC, HP and IBM.

But we also recognise that we must begin new digital skills training earlier. This is why the Government launched its new Digital Skills Strategy for Schools.
The strategy is all about using technology to help us learn in better and more interesting ways.

As we approach 2016, I want Ireland to be an Education Nation. Superfast broadband is already in place for all post-primary schools and we intend to do the same for all our primary schools. Our smart classrooms will become the launch pad of our sustainable smart economy into the future.

Budget 2016
Last month we also published our Budget for 2016. It is another step in our plan to keep the recovery going.

In addressing the challenges facing Ireland, Budget 2016 mirrors the goals of this Government for now and into the future.

To make work pay and to improve the attractiveness of Ireland as a location of work and enterprise we are tackling the high marginal tax rates on middle income earners.

We have started this process in the recent Budgets and all workers will benefit further from January and in the years ahead.
In addition to supporting Irish business, we have also continued the strategy of attracting more foreign investment and jobs.

To encourage new research and innovation in Ireland we are launching a new best in class ‘Knowledge Development Box’ next year that will halve the rate of corporation tax on qualifying innovative products and services developed in Ireland.

This coupled with our competitive Corporation Tax Rate regime, our R&D Tax Credit regime, our supports for International property management together with our investments in research and talent, should ensure that Ireland is among the leading innovation hubs for the future.

We in Government are continuing to work to make Ireland one of the best places in the world to do business, so that we can create new jobs like the ones here today and to secure recovery.

And on that note I would like to conclude by wishing you well and I look forward to watching all of these companies grow.