Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

A number of matters arise from the Tánaiste's reply. Dr. Duffy is not an ordinary worker, but is the vice-president of operations for Pfizer Ireland. His contribution on 26 November was very timely. He was speaking about Ireland preparing itself to be repositioned and be fit for purpose, as he described it, in a global sense. Clearly the flare was going up that repositioning was under way by this company and others. The Tánaiste referred to excess capacity. Is she aware of other vulnerable corporations here owing to that excess capacity and if so is anybody in Government talking to the chief executives of those companies to deal with the issues to which Dr. Duffy referred, which are competitiveness, investment in innovation, and the allowance for the capacity in research and development? The Tánaiste said that research and development is a major issue - and so it is. He specifically referred to the capacity to allow research and development to be offset against corporate or other taxes. The Tánaiste did not answer that question. Given that the Commission on Taxation recommended this and it was supported by my party, why did the Government not consider that that allowance be extended beyond mere profits? If we want to be fit for purpose for international investment in the country, surely the Government should be really focused on research and development, and innovation, which will be key to the next ten years. In the words of Dr. Duffy it should be focused on the single issue of retaining jobs. Following the request of the vice-president of operations of Pfizer Ireland and the president of the American Chamber of Commerce Ireland, why did the Government not listen to that encouragement for the Government to respond given that it claims to be responsive?

In his contribution Dr. Duffy also stated that Ireland's energy costs were considerably higher than those of the rest of the European Union. On numerous occasions Deputy Coveney has pointed out the extent of the liability we have as an exceptionally high cost country in the area of energy. He made the point that the Government should speak to the National Competitiveness Council before implementing its carbon strategy, which has given rise to excessive costs in energy here. Did the Government speak to the National Competitiveness Council in that regard?

Given that the Fine Gael Party has made a series of recommendations to reduce costs and make the country more competitive, has the Government considered the reduction of Government-regulated prices, including those for telecoms and energy? If so what message does it send to American companies in particular, which are exceptionally agitated and concerned about the rising cost of doing business here? This is an issue of serious concern across the country. Is it the intention of the Government to speak to the chief executives of the American corporations that have invested here to follow through and demonstrate that the plea made by the president of the American Chamber of Commerce Ireland last November would be implemented by Government and that we should focus on the issue of retention of jobs and not have announcements like the loss of 275 jobs in Newbridge, 210 in Dún Laoghaire and 300 in Cork, where the Tánaiste advises me there is an overcapacity in this sector? Will the Government call in those chief executives, listen to them and follow through with Government action to reinforce that call, which was not made lightly, that we reposition ourselves against a global reality of repositioning by these multinational companies?

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