Exporters’ association plan for 140,000 jobs

THE Irish Exporters’ Association has announced a five-point recovery plan to generate 140,000 jobs in exports to the EU region over the next three years.

Launching the move at Dublin Port yesterday morning, the association’s president Liam Shanahan told journalists it was time to cut out the “chat” and for people to realise the huge potential Europe offers Ireland.

Being a full member of the EU is our best option, he said, warning that multinationals have put investments on hold until the people have given their verdict on Lisbon.

People need to focus on the fact that a yes vote is a vote for jobs, he said.

“We need to focus on the straight economic issues that are before us at the moment,” he said.

Apart from Lisbon, the plan calls for the fast release of export stimulus packages from Government, improved trade finance from banks and the reduction of business costs.

If measures are introduced quickly, he said, “a 7% growth in exports can be achieved over the next three years with resultant export sales growth of €35 billion” and “70,000 direct sustainable jobs plus an equal number in indirect employment, bringing the total jobs figure to 140,000 new jobs”.

Our exports last year totalled €152bn and of that figure a total of 65% went to Europe, highlighting the importance of that market to Ireland going forward, he said.

Transport Minister Noel Dempsey, who attended the launch, said exports will be central to the recovery of the economy.

After “the hubris of the Celtic Tiger” he said the economy will have to get back to the reality of what it did best, which was selling goods and services internationally, he said.

Exports have “stood up well in the current slump” and were down just 1% according to the most recent analysis, compared with a huge dip of 25% or more in Britain and other EU states. They now account for 80% of GDP, while sales to Europe make up more than 52% of Irish national income, he said.

Competitiveness, which was lost during the property boom, has to be restored to the economy and the latest cut in energy prices will help restore that competitive edge to Irish exporters in the years ahead, he said.

The minister accepted theGovernment was under pressure in the polls, but he said he was optimistic the Irish people will be able to set aside their anger at the Government and vote yes in their own “self-interest”.

He conceded, however, that the slippage in yesterday’s poll highlighted “that nothing can be taken for granted” when it comes to Lisbon the second time round.