Speaking from the United States where he is on a week-long trade mission
meeting some of the world’s biggest IT companies in an attempt to secure
new investment and employment for Ireland, Minister Bruton commented on
this morning’s unemployment figures:
“The decline in the unemployment rate from 14.8% in the last quarter of
2010 to 14% in the first quarter of 2011 is to be welcomed, but today’s
figures remind us once again the scale of the unemployment challenge facing
a new government. Emigration is now draining our country and our economy of
some of our best and brightest people and we must do everything we can to
create opportunities for them to stay here and contribute to our recovery.
That was one of the key focuses of the recent Jobs Initiative.
“I have said repeatedly that Government itself does not create employment,
but it has a crucial role in creating the environment where businesses can
grow and create those much-needed jobs.
“I am determined to urgently implement a series of reforms to reduce
business costs, increase access to finance and to encourage and support
innovation in every way possible. The public sector, as a major economic
actor in its own right, also has a key role in providing leadership in each
of these areas and it is crucial that job creation becomes the top priority
of organisations across government in a very real way.
“It took many years of misguided policies to get our country into the jobs
crisis we face now and it will take a number of years of the right policies
to get us out of it. That is why there isn’t a moment to lose in driving on
with the reforms and policy changes needed to help turn our shared fortunes
around.”