merrion street

Enterprise Minister Richard Bruton today welcomed the latest NCB Purchasing Managers Index, published this morning and showing growth in manufacturing hitting its second highest level in eleven years.

A strong export performance will be crucial in driving the recovery in the wider Irish economy. Today’s figures, the latest in a growing body of evidence of high levels of performance in manufacturing and exports, show that there are grounds for hope.

However we must not become complacent about export performance. I, together with my colleagues across government, am developing plans to ensure that exports can continue to grow and lead a recovery in the domestic economy.

Above all, we must ensure that business costs continue to fall. The figures released today show the need for government to act decisively to bring down costs at a time when oil prices and other costs outside our control are rising. I have made proposals to government which will ensure that this month’s Jobs Initiative will contain measures which contribute to reducing that burden.