Martin: Govt focused on 'high-value' job creation

Minister for Enterprise Micheál Martin has said the Government is focusing its employment-creation efforts on attracting "high-value" and sustainable jobs into the country.

Speaking at the opening of the annual FAS Opportunities exhibition at Croke Park in Dublin today, Mr Martin said the Government had shifted its focus away from the traditional manufacturing sector.

"Our entire efforts are focused on attracting into the country, through our foreign direct investment programme and the IDA, higher value-type jobs," he said, "jobs that will, by definition, sustain longer in the country.

"That means a high skills base, a strong emphasis on research and development and innovation. We're having success in attracting companies of that sort."