Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will make two points. Senator Susan O'Keeffe made a point on targets. I consider the targets set and "co-opetition" to be linked because unless one has "co-opetition" in developing production capacity and achieving growth, internally and externally, as the board's chief executive officer observed when Food Harvest 2020 was announced, there is not much point in producing more to stand still. This must be done with a view to increasing wealth and export value as opposed to simply growing production because putting all of the money into investment initiatives - regardless of whether it is in the production of stainless steel or anything else - will be a futile exercise unless it brings added value to the sector and the country. This is the challenge. I refer to Senator susan O'Keeffe's other point. The last two slides on the challenges and looking to the future summarise the real challenge to match growth with production, to manage volatility and to receive support from the Government in restrained economic circumstances. One should be mindful of the position on tax relief. In many cases, one hears people simplistically calling for the abolition of tax allowances or breaks when, in fact, they are meant to be jobs and growth stimuli. Consequently, when such allowances are being proposed, one must be careful that this is the end target and that what is proposed is a tax relief investment policy, as opposed to a tax evasion scheme. One should bear this in mind. I invite Mr. Buckley and his colleagues to respond to these questions.