Dr. Pat Ivory:

In terms of job creation, it is a question of skills. We need to look at how we can help people to change their skills and adapt them to new requirements.

For example, through initiatives such as conversion programmes, engineers who had previously worked in the construction sector were able to do a year-long conversion course which provided them with the skills required to work as engineers in other sectors, such as the software sector, where engineering skills are needed. This focus on skills and on helping people who are currently unemployed to convert their skills, thus enabling them to get back into the job market, is important. There are also some good initiatives in the area of science and maths skills at second and third level. The pharmaceutical and technology sectors have for many years been calling for a focus on producing more science and maths graduates in order to fill vacancies in the sector. Currently, many companies in this sector cannot find people with the required skills to fill jobs.

It must be remembered that trade consists not only of exports but also of imports. We need to get our domestic economy going again. Initiatives that can strengthen our domestic economy and boost growth will be good for companies that are selling their products on the domestic market. They would also assist in increasing our level of imports. Our port authorities, shipping companies and airlines benefit when the economy is doing well, which in turn ensures we have a greater capacity and ability to import products that we do not produce. Imports as well as exports have an important role to play in our recovery.