Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is an issue on the east coast as well as the west. People on the east coast would also like to see the same emphasis on job creation in this area, which will definitely come, maybe not this year, but in future.

I have a question for both witnesses. We recently heard from the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council, NCPC, which told us: "The attractiveness of a location cannot be focused solely on it as a place to work;...[but] also...as a place to live." Almost every business representative body and agency that has appeared in front of the committee has referenced the impact of the cost-of-living crisis we are in at present. Specifically, the issues of the housing crisis, energy, transport, and the cost of education and childcare, are significantly impacting on people who are on ordinary incomes. Does Enterprise Ireland share the view of the NCPC on the State and its capacity to remain an attractive location? We know the cost-of-living crisis is there and is referenced by everybody, but what will happen if housing, transport, education and childcare costs, specifically, are not addressed? Does Enterprise Ireland have a view on whether these costs need to be addressed and on the impact the current crisis is having on the capacity of firms to expand or attract workers? I am not talking about workers who may come here temporarily on one of the Government's visa programmes. I am talking about sustainable, decent, long-term jobs. I am not focusing specifically on the low-wage economy but low-income to middle-income earners, what my mother would have called people on ordinary money, and the impacts this is having on them.