Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 9 Jul 1991

Vol. 410 No. 6

Written Answers. - Job Creation.

Pat Rabbitte

Ceist:

21 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will outline the latest information available to his Department on the expected level of job creation during the current year; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Seán Ryan

Ceist:

23 Mr. Ryan asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether, in the first six months of the operation of the Programme for Economic and Social Progress, his job target for the manufacturing and international services in this period has remained on target; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Dick Spring

Ceist:

30 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether, in the light of the findings of a recent MRBI poll in which the respondents supported the view that Government bear responsibility for job creation, he will outline any new initiatives for job creation he has planned for 1991; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Patrick McCartan

Ceist:

39 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if, in view of the findings of the ERSI in its study published on 25 June 1991 that unemployment was likely to continue to increase until the middle of this decade, the Government intend to take any additional measures to promote the creation of additional jobs in industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Industry and Commerce (Mr. O'Malley)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 21, 23, 30 and 39 together.

Under the Programme for Economic and Social Progress, the target is to create 20,000 new jobs each year of the programme in manufacturing and international services. It was pointed out in the programme that the achievement of this target would require continuing stability in the economic environment and cost competitiveness throughout the industrial and services sectors. The need for a positive external environment for our exports, and a co-operative response from firms, employees and the various State agencies involved in supporting developments was also critical to its achievement.

After initial uncertainties earlier in the year caused by the Gulf War and exacerbated by recession in the USA and the UK, the industrial development agencies are confident that the target of 20,000 new jobs in manufacturing and international services can be met.

The level of interest in investment in Ireland from overseas firms has revived and the prospects of winning new investments for Ireland are encouraging for the remainder of the year. Even with competitive gains in costs, Irish industry has been hard hit by the UK recession and this highlights the need for Irish companies to continue their diversification into other EC markets.

The Government will continue to take all possible steps to ensure a positive business environment. In particular, the Government are determined to bring about the strengthening of the indigenous industrial sector, particularly in terms of scale and innovation. Greater integration of industrial activity with other sectors of the economy will also be pursued in order to increase the Irish value added share of industrial output. In this connection, the presence in Ireland of over 1,000 overseas companies provides an outstanding market for Irish supplier companies.

Finally, the review of industrial policy recently announced by me should identify what further initiatives need to be taken, particularly to develop indigenous industry. The foundation for a sustainable increase in real jobs must be the growth of internationally trading native industries. It is only through such a development that wealth and jobs can be created which are viable in the long term and which contribute to the greater economic well-being of our society.