Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity for the House to debate economic policy and the Government’s plans to secure our hard-won economic recovery over the past four years. Since my appointment as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade ten months ago, I have been directly involved in promoting our country’s trade and export markets, working with embassies, agencies and businesses in Ireland and around the world.

In 2011, the Taoiseach summoned ambassadors and consuls general to Dublin. He then charged the 79 heads of mission with the task of engaging with international media, political and business leaders to deliver the key messages that Ireland was meeting its troika bailout package targets, was returning to economic growth, that the Government would protect Ireland’s corporation tax rate and that Ireland was the place to be for companies that wanted innovation, scientific research, cutting edge technology.

Earlier this year, I brought together all our ambassadors once again. This time the message was different. Ireland is now a politically and economically stable country, back at the heart of the EU. It has successfully exited the bailout, unemployment has fallen from a peak of over 15% to 10% and continues to fall. Last year GDP rose by 4.8%, making Ireland the fastest growing economy in Europe. International confidence is evidenced in our bond yields. A ten-year bond in October sold for a 1.63% yield compared to 15% yields in July 2011. The deficit has fallen from €22 billion in 2010 to a forecasted €5 billion in 2015. Ireland is open for investment and an investment opportunity here is like no other in the EU or beyond.

It is clear our core messages about Ireland are getting through while the relentless promotion of Ireland overseas by Ministers and ambassadors is most effective. Several weeks ago this was brought home to me when John McCain, the influential US Senator, approached me at an event to congratulate the Irish people and Government on our economic recovery. This is a message that I hear time and time again from foreign Ministers, Heads of Government and politicians, as well as business leaders when I travel abroad.

As well as their important work in connecting with international media and opinion formers, our missions play a key role in trade promotion, working with State agencies to organise trade missions and open doors to businesses. Local market teams are in place in priority markets, headed by the ambassador and comprising representatives of the embassy and relevant State agencies. The export trade council, which I chair, reviews their local market plans. All of this work is paying off as the latest figures show that exports by Irish firms have reached a new all-time high of €18.6 billion.

The hard-fought and hard-won turnaround is often subject of analysis in the international media. Indeed, Forbes last year ranked Ireland the fourth best country in the world in which to do business across eleven categories and the number one country for personal freedom. This is some turnaround from the period in which Ireland was locked out of international markets, broke, desperate and at the mercy of the IMF and our partners in the EU to bail us out of a catastrophic economic meltdown. We never want to be back there again. The dedicated work of my Department and our mission network will continue to consolidate our economic recovery.

I represent a constituency that was in many ways at the sharp edge of the economic collapse, representative of many communities around the country affected by the crash and its aftermath. County Laois is firmly located in the commuter belt. During the so-called boom years, many young families bought homes in the county at vastly inflated prices. The crash left a legacy of negative equity, ghost estates, unemployment, pay cuts and challenging taxes and charges, particularly for the many public and civil servants who live and work in and around Portlaoise. Gradually, as the economy recovers, confidence is returning slowly to the people, with the roads and main streets busy again.

Ghost estates were tackled and are being systematically dealt with. Job opportunities are opening up. Pupils now learn in new schools and school extensions are being completed. Laois is set to benefit from Ireland's Ancient East initiative with a number of our tourism attractions being included on the trail.

However, there is still much to be done for most people in my constituency to feel the recovery in their daily lives. That is why the spring economic statement can be a source of optimism for many people in County Laois, the midlands generally and other regions.

Public servants have made an enormous contribution to our economic recovery, including gardaí, prison officers, teachers, nurses, civil servants and other public servants. As the economy recovers, we can now look at gradual, sustainable pay recovery for public servants from 2016 onwards, linked to continuing reforms to improve public service efficiency and effectiveness.

Likewise, this year's Regional Action Plan for Jobs approach will be of great value in the midlands by identifying some of the barriers to job creation and developing solutions of a new and exciting nature. The local enterprise office, which I had the pleasure of opening last year, is already active in assisting local businesses. Government plans to end unfair tax treatment for the self-employed and small businesses will also boost confidence in the regions.

Farmers feel good about the future with CAP reform, new markets and the abolition of dairy quotas taking effect. It is essential, therefore, that economic recovery is spread as evenly as possible throughout the State. I am looking forward with interest to the regional action plan for jobs in the midlands region. I refer specifically to the need to ensure economic progress in the midland counties of Longford, Westmeath, Offaly and Laois. It is essential that economic recovery is seen to be spread as evenly as possible throughout the State but with particular reference to regions that have been most disadvantaged. In my constituency alone, 4,000 construction workers lost their jobs directly as a result of the property collapse.

I am confident that the changes and initiatives introduced by this Government to date and further planned reforms as well as the economic proposals set out by my colleague, the Minister for Finance, Deputy Noonan, in the spring economic statement, and the Action Plan for Jobs spearheaded by my colleague, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Richard Bruton, will deliver a comprehensive recovery across the country, ultimately benefitting all of our people.

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