15 Mr. S. Barrett asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the net number of jobs created in manufacturing and international services employment in each year for the period 1987-89, inclusive; if he will also give the number of jobs created and lost in each year for the period in question; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
43 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the anticipated level of job creation during 1990; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Priority Question No. 15 and Oral Question No. 43 together.
I propose to circulate in the Official Report a tabular statement giving the information sought by Deputy Barrett. The information is derived from the annual employment surveys carried out by the industrial promotion agencies.
The surveys show that net employment in manufacturing and international services at the end of 1989 had increased by well over 6,000 compared with the previous year. The increase compares with an average net reduction of 4,000 jobs per year over the period 1980-87. The results confirm the upward trend in manufacturing employment shown in the latest CSO Labour Force and Quarterly Industrial Employment Surveys and reflect the overall improvement in our general economic situation in recent years.
This is not a reply to my question.
I am very hopeful that if we can maintain our commitment to improving the public finances, achieve real reform in the tax system and maintain cost competitiveness, significant further net job creation can be achieved in 1990. Various economic forecasters — the Central Bank, the Department of Finance and the ESRI — have estimated that there will be an increase of between 12,000 and 16,000 in 1990 in the annual average total at work.
The table is as follows:
Statement
Employment in Manufacturing and International Services
|
Year |
Gross Gains |
Gross Losses |
Net Changes |
|
1987 |
16,774 |
21,384 |
–4,610 |
|
1988 |
18,635 |
16,016 |
+2,619 |
|
1989 |
22,142 |
15,227 |
+6,915 |
Source: IDA-SFADCo-Údarás na Gaeltachta Employment Surveys.
I thank the Minister for the political statement but I now ask him to reply to the question on the Order Paper. Will the Minister announce the net number of jobs created in manufacturing and international services employment in each year from 1987 to 1989? Will the Minister announce the number of jobs created and lost each year for the period in question?
I have indicated that I will be sending a tabular statement to Deputy Barrett and that the increase of more than 6,000 in 1989 compares very favourably with the position between 1982 and 1983.
Will the Minister give the House the details for 1987, 1988 and 1989?
The Deputy may not like to hear those figures.
I do not want the figures for 1982.
This should not continue. The House should note that we have run out of time for Priority Questions.I am going on to ordinary Questions.
Will the Minister give me the information I have requested?
In 1987 there were 16,774 gross gains and 21,384 gross losses, leaving a net change of minus 4,610; in 1988 the number of gross gains was 18,635, gross losses 16,016, leaving a net change of plus 2,619; and in 1989 there were 22,142 gross gains and 15,227 gross losses leaving a net change of 6,950.
We must now move to deal with other Questions.
On a point of order, the Chair ruled my Priority Question out of order and, while I am not challenging that ruling, I would like to ask the Chair, as Chairman of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges, to find a way to permit a Member in such cases to submit a substitute question. I only became aware of the position today.
The Deputy has representation on the Committee on Procedure and Privileges and I invite him to put this matter before the committee and I will see that it is deliberated upon.
Will the Minister agree that the huha created by the senior Minister in his Department about cancelling export credit insurance to Iraq was nothing more than white smoke for those who want to compete against us abroad? Will the Minister agree that after three years there have been no claims whatever in relation to the export credit finance scheme which is linked to the export credit insurance scheme? Will the Minister say when he will publish the reasons cover was cancelled so that we can examine whether the actions of the Minister for Industry and Commerce were justified?
I do not agree with the statements by the Deputy. He has made those statements without being in possession of the facts.
I have given the facts.
The Minister, Deputy O'Malley, gave a comprehensive reply to Deputy Barrett in November 1989. We will not be publishing the document referred to.
Will the Minister accept that the time for making a claim has passed? The Minister has told the House that no claim has been made for 1987-88 and for that reason he should publish the report which will indicate the reasons he decided to cancel cover for export credit insurance. Whether one agrees with the original decision or not is a different matter but in view of the fact that the State may be facing a court action as a result of the Minister's actions, he should give us his reasons for taking the steps he took some months ago.
So far as the export credit finance scheme is concerned, there is still £8.3 million due to Irish banks in relation to exports. I cannot give any further information to the Deputy because the matter is confidential. I am sure the Deputy is aware of the other issues involved.
