High-skills jobs the future, declares Minister

Ireland must focus on highly-skilled R&D employment because it can not compete effectively with other low-cost economies for manufacturing jobs anymore, Enterprise Minister Micheál Martin declared today.

Minister Martin was speaking after it was revealed five multinationals are to invest over €53m in their Irish operations.

The money will go into research and development centres in Dublin, Cork, Waterford and Galway and will create highly-skilled jobs in the long term.

The investments were announced today by Pfizer Inc, Citygroup, Genzyme Corporation, Xilinx Inc and Bristol Myers Squibb Company.

Minister Martin said: “Today’s groundbreaking research and development initiatives are hugely significant for Ireland’s future competitiveness.”

The minister said that Government policy and IDA Ireland’s strategy in recent years had focussed on the state’s development into a knowledge-based economy with advanced R&D capability.

“The fact that five of the world’s leading multinational corporations have chosen Ireland over global competition for their cutting-edge research activities is a serious achievement and shows our ability to compete vigorously and win these highly sought-after investments,” he said.

Xilinx, which produces microchips, is investing €7.5m in setting up its first research lab outside its US base at its European HQ in Dublin.

Drug firm, Bristol Myers Squibb Company will establish joint research programmes worth €9.6m with academics in DCU and UCG.

Pharmaceutical giant, Pfizer is investing €20m in a development facility at its existing plant at Ringaskiddy, Co Cork. Pfizer already has nine operations in Ireland and employs 2,200 people.

The world’s largest financial services company, Citigroup will set up a €10m euro R&D centre of excellence at its Dublin HQ in the IFSC.

Biotech firm, Genzyme is investing €6.11m to expand its R&D facility in Co Waterford.

Mr Martin noted that Ireland currently has the highest per capita number of science and engineering graduates between the ages of 24 to 34 in the world.

Targeted Government programmes are also helping to arrest the decline in students taking science and engineering subjects at second-level education.

IDA chief Sean Dorgan said: “These investments prove that Ireland is now capable of accommodating the most advanced development facilities in the world.”

Mr Martin added: “Highly skilled and educated people, many at post-graduate and doctoral level will be required for these operations.

“The Ireland of the future will be one where education, skills and research are the defining advantages in an increasingly competitive world.”