5 July 2001 Edition
Economic Slowdown
Clear evidence of a slowdown in the 26-County economy was presented this week in jobs data published by IDA Ireland and tax returns released by the Department of Finance.
Figures from the IDA, the agency responsible for attracting international businesses to the 26 Counties, show an expected halving in the number of new jobs being created in the 26-County economy this year. The IDA expects to grant aid an additional 12,717 new jobs in 2001.
The Department of Finance figures showed a decline of about £500 million in the surplus tax revenue the Dublin government expects to have at the end of the year.
This does not mean that there should be spending cuts; there is still £2 billion of surplus funds available.
Maybe Finance minister Charlie McCreevy will keep in mind the recent MRBI survey that showed 74% of voters would sacrifice tax cuts for a better-funded health service. People clearly want this money invested in socially useful resources such as health and education. Now that the funds available are slowly contracting, there is a greater onus on the coalition government to invest this money wisely.
The battle between Tony O'Reilly's Valentia consortium and Denis O'Brien's e-Island group is becoming ever more interesting as bids and counter bids fly. The vital missing ingredient is that other than the small detail of how much money each contender is willing to offer per share we know nothing of the future plans either of the prospective owners have for this company.
With such an important resource at stake, why are the board of Eircom and the Department of Public Enterprise not demanding more detail from the prospective bidders for the company? Could it be that just as was the case when Eircom was privatised two years ago, the only real concern was to take the money and run? It is interesting to note that some things never change.
Workers in Wexford could not contain their anger on Saturday last, when Taoiseach Bertie Ahern visited the county to open the new multi-million pound quay-front project.
In the face of continuing job losses and factory closures in the county, a rally of workers and their supporters was organised by the Wexford Council of Trade Unions in the Bullring. While the rally had not intended on tackling the `Teflon Taoiseach', the attendees decided on a change of plan.
Led by Wexford Sinn Féin's general election hopeful, Councillor John O'Dwyer, who carried a placard with the names of factories that have closed recently in Wexford, the crowd marched up the new quay towards the opening. Spectators applauded and took photographs as the band of protestors approached the Marina, where the day's ceremonies were coming to a close.
Startled gardaí stopped the marchers when they felt that they were coming too close to the man himself. Chants of ``We want jobs'' and ``What do we want, Jobs for Wexford, When do we want them? Now!'', were heard as the protestors made their way up the quay towards the Talbot Hotel, where a civic reception awaited Ahern.
In his speech at the quay, Ahern did promise to make Wexford a priority for job creation. However, his assertion that the county has done very well recently, despite some `small' set-backs, found little favour with the protestors.
Figures from the IDA, the agency responsible for attracting international businesses to the 26 Counties, show an expected halving in the number of new jobs being created in the 26-County economy this year. The IDA expects to grant aid an additional 12,717 new jobs in 2001.
The Department of Finance figures showed a decline of about £500 million in the surplus tax revenue the Dublin government expects to have at the end of the year.
This does not mean that there should be spending cuts; there is still £2 billion of surplus funds available.
Maybe Finance minister Charlie McCreevy will keep in mind the recent MRBI survey that showed 74% of voters would sacrifice tax cuts for a better-funded health service. People clearly want this money invested in socially useful resources such as health and education. Now that the funds available are slowly contracting, there is a greater onus on the coalition government to invest this money wisely.
Eircom sell off
The battle between Tony O'Reilly's Valentia consortium and Denis O'Brien's e-Island group is becoming ever more interesting as bids and counter bids fly. The vital missing ingredient is that other than the small detail of how much money each contender is willing to offer per share we know nothing of the future plans either of the prospective owners have for this company.
With such an important resource at stake, why are the board of Eircom and the Department of Public Enterprise not demanding more detail from the prospective bidders for the company? Could it be that just as was the case when Eircom was privatised two years ago, the only real concern was to take the money and run? It is interesting to note that some things never change.
Ahern tackled on Wexford jobs crisis
Workers in Wexford could not contain their anger on Saturday last, when Taoiseach Bertie Ahern visited the county to open the new multi-million pound quay-front project.
In the face of continuing job losses and factory closures in the county, a rally of workers and their supporters was organised by the Wexford Council of Trade Unions in the Bullring. While the rally had not intended on tackling the `Teflon Taoiseach', the attendees decided on a change of plan.
Led by Wexford Sinn Féin's general election hopeful, Councillor John O'Dwyer, who carried a placard with the names of factories that have closed recently in Wexford, the crowd marched up the new quay towards the opening. Spectators applauded and took photographs as the band of protestors approached the Marina, where the day's ceremonies were coming to a close.
Startled gardaí stopped the marchers when they felt that they were coming too close to the man himself. Chants of ``We want jobs'' and ``What do we want, Jobs for Wexford, When do we want them? Now!'', were heard as the protestors made their way up the quay towards the Talbot Hotel, where a civic reception awaited Ahern.
In his speech at the quay, Ahern did promise to make Wexford a priority for job creation. However, his assertion that the county has done very well recently, despite some `small' set-backs, found little favour with the protestors.