Mid-West region forgotten, says IBEC leader

THE Mid-West region is losing out because of a lack of strong political leadership and the overall net loss of almost 2,000 jobs in the region is staggering, according to IBEC Mid-West President, Liam Ryan.

Addressing the President’s Biennial Dinner in the Dunraven Arms Hotel in Adare, Co Limerick, attended by 300 business people, Mr Ryan issued a wake-up call to Government, politicians and business for stronger leadership to drive the Mid-West region forward.

Mr Ryan, who is Managing Director of BMS Ireland, said that the region was now stagnating by not building on the impressive progress of the last decade. The overall net loss of jobs in the region during 2002 was staggering.

The 1,867 job losses in IDA supported companies in the Mid-West in 2002 was the greatest of any region in Ireland. Shannon Development supported employment also decreased by 734 net jobs in the same year.

“Key challenges must be faced and business has a key role to play in making the Mid-West a prime location for investment. Government is not delivering promised sustainable balanced regional development. Indeed, it appears the Mid-West region has been forgotten in attracting new business to the region,” said Mr Ryan.

A recent survey of IBEC’s members in the region has found that all sectors face continued cost increases in areas like wages, materials and inputs, insurance, fuel, energy and rates.

Mr Ryan said that the key issues emerging were: (1) Cost competitiveness being eroded by inflation (2) Escalating insurance premia and impact on business of our claims culture (3) Bureaucracy and over-regulation (4) Inability of Ireland to deal with our environmental issues.

Referring to Shannon Airport, Mr Ryan said that the announcement of the change in ownership is the single biggest change in terms of regional development in Ireland over the last decade.

It was incumbent now that the region supports the airport and that the Government fast-tracks investment in projects directly linked to the airport.

“The Minister for Transport’s decision gives responsibility for the airport to the region so we can now influence our own destiny. I believe we need as many flights as possible between Shannon and Dublin and destinations in the UK, Europe and USA,” he said.

The business community in the Mid-West region was calling on the Government to refrain over the next 2 years from increasing public sector pay, public expenditure and from increasing personal, corporate and VAT taxes.