Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I want to add to the points Deputies Naughten and Timmins have made. It would not take a rocket scientist to figure out that if one continues to increase taxes and burdens for the employer on the unit cost of labour, it will act as a disincentive for new employment and will create a major risk of loss of employment at a time when we cannot afford to lose jobs or to disincentivise employment. This is a simple amendment. It puts an onus on the Minster to effectively job-proof the measures contained in the legislation and their implementation in so far as is possible. It would be very reasonable and mature of the Minister responsible to accept the amendment.

Deputy Naughten has pointed out the realities, which we have already discussed at length, in terms of maternity benefit, illness benefit and other burdens on employers. It is important to note it is not only Members of the Oireachtas who are pointing out these realities. The US Chamber of Commerce in Ireland, which represents businesses that employ approximately 115,000 people, along with the Irish Exporters Association, have expressed their concerns as to what the impact measures, for example, the PRSI measure we have learned about in recent weeks since the budget was announced and other measures contained in this legislation, will have on our competitiveness. At a time when we have worked extremely hard to improve our competitiveness, we have to be conscious of the fact that exports are declining. They declined by 3% last year. We have to take the calls of these organisations seriously. These are the people who are doing their utmost to create employment in our economy, to grow businesses and to encourage entrepreneurship. It would be remiss of this House to ignore the very valid points that are being made.

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