Labour’s jobs strategy rehashes Government policy - Andrews

Chris Andrews, Fianna Fáil TD for Dublin South East, has said that many of the components of the Labour Party’s jobs strategy are simply a restatement of Government policy.

Responding to Deputy Eamon Gilmore’s speech at the Labour Party conference at the weekend Deputy Andrews said: “Labour claims to be a fresh party with new ideas. However, it is clear from their jobs strategy that is not the case. Far from having their own ideas, much of what they are proposing is in fact already being implemented by Government.”

Deputy Andrews said: “Mr. Gilmore has called for a PRSI break for companies that create new jobs. The Government already introduced an employer job (PRSI) incentive scheme in December’s budget. Under the scheme, any employer who creates a new job for somebody who has been unemployed for six months or more will be fully exempt from PRSI liability for the first year of that employment. This will provide 8% to 10% saving on employment costs for each new job created."

Deputy Andrews said: “The Labour Party has also called for the the establishment of building insulation schemes to create jobs. Again, this is already being done. The National Insulation Plan has been extended to include a new €50 million national energy retrofit programme creating an estimated 5,000 jobs this year. Recognising that energy reform is key to our economic renewal, over €130 million has been allocated for energy efficiency programmes in 2010.”

Deputy Andrews said: “The Labour party has proposed providing more supports to firms for research and marketing development. Again, they appear to be behind the curve on this. The Government has long been committed to investing heavily in R&D.  As far back as December 2008, the Government launched its “Framework for Sustainable Economic Renewal: Building Ireland’s Smart Economy” which recognised the central role that R&D will play in positioning Ireland as an Innovation Hub.

In a clear sign that the Government’s strategy for a smart economy is paying off, last week saw over 500 high-end jobs being created across the country."

Deputy Andrews said: “The Labour party has said that it would move ahead with projects such as school buildings. This year the Government is investing €579 million  in the School Building Programme creating an estimated 5,300 jobs in the construction industry. This remains one of the largest investments in our school buildings in the history of the state.”

Deputy Andrew said: “These are just some of the Government’s ideas that are being recycled by the Labour party. The list goes on. While imitation is the greatest form of flattery, it is clear that Labour's jobs strategy offers nothing new."