Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party) | Oireachtas source

I am still none the wiser as to exactly what sectors these jobs are in, but I have noted the vast bulk of the Department's budget of €755 million for 2014 consists of grants, subsidies and other incentives to corporations. It is what is known as corporate welfare, where the State uses taxes collected from workers, and savings through cuts to public spending, to give handouts and tax incentives to big business to create jobs. In 2011 the Taoiseach stated he wanted this to be the best small country in which to do business by 2016. I have an issue with this statement because it does not imply jobs are being created for the sake of the people who will have the jobs, but that the Government is creating a climate for business people from these jobs. The philosophy is about face. It seems people are to serve the economy and private business rather than the other way around.

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