Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate. Substantial progress has been made by the Government in a relatively short time. In March 2011 Ireland was a much different place, it was in political and financial meltdown. Slowly but surely, in 2014 it is fighting back and moving in the direction of recovery. Significant work by the Government and the people has resulted in this becoming the first country to emerge from a bailout programme. The troika left our shores last December; the promissory note payments and Anglo Irish Bank are no more; the economy is growing and we have returned to the international bond markets.

The most pressing issue faced by the Government was and continues to be job creation. In the limited time available to me I will speak on this matter. In response to the jobs crisis, the Government put in place Action Plan for Jobs in early 2012. It is a whole-of-government approach involving every Department and agency, with quarterly targets and assigned responsibilities. The plan was aimed at systematically, brick by brick, building a sustainable economy that could create the number of jobs we needed. Our competitiveness has improved steadily since the process was first launched, moving from 24th in the Institute for Management Development, IMD, rankings in 2011 to 20th in 2012 and 17th in 2013. We are regaining the ground we had given up. A competitive economy will stimulate job creation. By metric, the jobs plan is working in a macro sense.

However, many people are not feeling it yet and we still have a long way to go. It is important to remember, however, that we have gone from a situation where we were shedding 1,600 jobs per week to one where we are now adding 1,200 new jobs per week. It is painstaking work but it can only be done, point by point, action by action.

I said before in the House that I am disappointed with the geographical spread of new employment, as it is currently skewed towards the major urban areas of Dublin, Cork and Galway. I believe more attention and support should be given to the regions to ensure a more balanced and ultimately sustainable employment recovery.

Shannon Airport is the major driver of economic activity in the mid-west and County Clare. There has been an extremely encouraging start to the airport's new status as an independent entity which bodes well for the future. In its first year as an independent airport under the capable guidance of chairperson, Rose Hynes, and chief executive officer, Neil Pakey, it has reversed five years of successive passenger decline by recording an increase in passenger numbers on 2012. Passenger growth is the initial priority for Shannon. Progress on the wider plans, including the development of an international aviation services centre to complement the existing cluster of 40 aviation related businesses, has also been made. The State airports (Shannon group) Bill is set to be introduced to the Dáil for debate prior to Easter with enactment expected before the summer recess. The significant strengthening of destinations and services for passengers at the airport this year is no doubt as a result of the Government's decision to change the administrative model radically and create the new independent structure.

Ryanair has eight new destinations this year to Berlin, Faro, Fuerteventura, Krakow, Munich, Nice, Paris, Poitiers and Warsaw. Aer Lingus Regional is almost doubling capacity, including a new Bristol service, while Aer Lingus has also just launched its first daily year-round transatlantic flights since 2009 with its Boston service. It will commence the six times weekly New York service in March and a new Malaga service in April. United Airlines will increase its capacity on the Chicago route by 88% this year.

Shannon Airport has stepped up to the mark as a key economic driver for the region. The recent high profile investments such as Donald Trump's acquisition of Doonbeg golf course and his planned investment would not have happened without the existence of Shannon Airport. The renewed energy, vibrancy and strong momentum at the airport is very welcome. I am confident that more direct and indirect jobs can be created in the mid-west and County Clare as a result.

See this speech in context