We need leaders with bottle to fight on our behalf

Over the last several months, each week seems to bring more welcome news of overseas companies deciding to establish operations or to expand existing operations in Ireland.

For instance, on Tuesday we read the news that Intel is seeking planning permission for a new 162,000 square metre plant at its existing campus in Leixlip, Co Kildare. That’s a facility of almost 1.75 million square feet and is seen as confirmation that Leixlip had been chosen to produce Intel’s next generation of microprocessors.

Intel, as Ireland’s largest private sector employer, already employs 4,000 highly qualified graduates and other staff at this facility. This new facility is projected to create up to 1,000 jobs in engineering and construction and should underpin the jobs of its Irish employees. All of this, if the signals are being properly read, is a major boost to the economy in these times of doom and gloom. It is an endorsement of the employees of Intel in Ireland and the attractiveness of Ireland as a location for foreign direct investment.