Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 4:

In page 6, between lines 11 and 12, to insert the following:"(f) to create employment in the State,".

My intention is to broaden this strategic bank's mandate so that we can move away from banks' overly narrow focus and instead focus on the strategic priorities for the economy and our citizens. Creating employment is a self-evident imperative for society. It seems reasonable to insert this imperative into the Bill's list, which currently includes the general and correct imperatives of protecting the interests of taxpayers and contributing to the economic development of the State as well as enhancing the competitiveness of the State. I am not so crazy about competition, but that is the Minister's bias. The list refers to these imperatives and broader strategic objectives, but it does not explicitly state the need to create jobs. The Minister might claim such is implicit in the bank's objectives, but I do not know why it would not be explicit.

Sometimes, there can be a trade-off between imperatives if it is not fully understood that we want them all. In particular, some deem a competitive approach to be one that cuts jobs. I do not agree, but this is often how "competitiveness" is interpreted. In having a fully rounded set of objectives for this strategic bank, it is important to include as an informing principle an explicit commitment to create employment. Who knows? Maybe the Minister will accept this amendment.

See this speech in context