FF still no jobs plan as Govt commits to ten year strategy – Corcoran Kennedy

“Enterprise 2025 commits to adding 221,300 new jobs to the economy and reducing unemployment in all regions, while Fianna Fáil, after almost five years in opposition, has come up with nothing”, says Fine Gael TD for Laois/Offaly and Chairperson of the Oireachtas Jobs Committee, Marcella Corcoran Kennedy.

“The only significant contribution Fianna Fáil has made to the conversation about the economy in recent months has been to vote against budget cuts to USC and their pre-budget submission, which criticised the export-led recovery and lamented the fact that the economy doesn’t look like it did in 2008.

“The Enterprise 2025 strategy, announced today (Thursday), by the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton, targets adding 221,300 jobs to the economy over the next 5 years.

“This 10 year jobs and enterprise strategy is aimed at ending the boom and bust cycle implemented again and again by Fianna Fáil, and to bring the number of people at work to 2.18 million people by 2020.

“During the Fianna Fáil, construction led boom, exporting companies accounted for only 19% of jobs. As part of Enterprise 2025 the export sector will create 47% (105,000) of the new jobs to 2020, these include jobs in tourism.

“This is an ambitious plan which includes key targets of achieving and retaining a top 3 competitiveness ranking for Ireland, and bringing unemployment rates in each region to within one percent of the state average by 2020.
“It seems that all Fianna Fáil has to offer when it comes to the economy, is to vote down cuts to their treasured USC and offer vague platitudes on spreading the recovery, with few details included. Amazingly, Fianna Fáil still hasn’t published an overall jobs plan, after almost 5 years and the worst employment crisis the country has ever faced.
“Enterprise 2025 highlights again this Government’s commitment to securing the recovery and adding jobs to the economy by setting out a clear path for progress.”