merrion street

Today is another very important day in our jobs-led recovery. 

Sage is the global leader in its field – supplying business management software to small and medium sized companies.
It is the only software company on the FTSE 100.
And it is choosing Ireland for its new European Customer Business Centre.
In doing so, Sage will add another 300 jobs, more than doubling its existing workforce here.
That is a massive statement of confidence in this country’s future.
It underlines once more our highly skilled workforce and the attractiveness of Dublin as a tech hub.
It will be another vital contribution to our jobs-led recovery.
And I’ve no doubt it will help persuade other companies that their future should be in Ireland too.
The Government and the State agencies will play our part in this.
Sage has a motto about what it does – “Reimagining Business”.
In a way, that’s what the Government is doing too – we’re Reimagining Ireland.
In 2011, we inherited a country on its knees.
The picture couldn’t be more different now.
We have restored our international reputation, restored our finances, and restored our attractiveness as a location for foreign direct investment.
All of which means we have an immense opportunity – to build an Ireland better for everyone.
Yesterday, we unveiled a Budget designed to help us get there.
A carefully designed, responsible, interlocking Budget, where different pieces come together to form the overall picture.
A picture of a country moving firmly in the right direction.
The Budget is designed to help people back to work.
To ensure more take home pay for low and middle-income earners.
To raise living standards in every home.
To help the vulnerable and to provide better services.
To increase the great progress we’ve made in restoring our public finances to health and reducing our debt to sustainable levels.
To capitalise on the opportunity we now have to deliver an Ireland better for all.
Today’s announcement by Sage is in keeping with that vision.
I wish you every luck with your expansion and new headquarters in Leopardstown, and every success into the future.
Because your success will be Ireland’s success too.
Thank you.