Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)

The IDA is charged with the function of creating as many jobs as possible. Its purpose is to attract foreign direct investment and to support companies locating in this country. The reverse is the case with Enterprise Ireland, whose purpose and function is to promote and sustain as many jobs as possible, as opposed to having particular targets. Its purpose is to establish companies in Ireland, bring them up the value chain and assist them in accessing markets internationally. The idea that on 1 January of any year they would state they will create a certain number of jobs in that year would not be operational. What we are doing on a continuous basis is supporting employment and the number of jobs that flow from that as a consequence. Take the example of the 47 announcements by the IDA this year and the 10,500 jobs created with the assistance of Enterprise Ireland. At the start of 2008, however, the agencies did not specifically state they would create X number of jobs. That would be a very foolish way to operate.

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