Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

This Government will show leadership by managing the economy through this international downturn and on to a path to economic recovery. A time of serious adversity can be a time of great opportunity. In the cycle of any economy, there is a time for renewal and change. The basis for this economic renewal will be the achievements of the past ten years. Yet during difficult times it is tempting to batten down the hatches and wait until the storm is over before figuring out where to go next. However, we must not and we will not have our attention diverted from putting in place the necessary building blocks so that Ireland can take advantage of the inevitable upswing in the global economy.

In the current challenging circumstances, the Government is acutely aware of the key role of business in driving economic growth and providing secure, quality employment. Ireland has enjoyed extraordinary economic success, in part as a result of providing a highly favourable business environment. The latest World Doing Business report ranks us seventh out of 182 countries as a place to do business, the fifth easiest place to establish a business and the third cheapest location for business start-up regulation.

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