Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I assure Deputy Collins that my Department is working hard on this. We have the Action Plan for Jobs and the regional action plans to ensure that jobs come into the country. Competitiveness is on the top of our agenda as well as bringing in jobs.

We are looking at wages. Wages are mainly set in the private sector. I mindful of the issues Deputy Collins has raised, including, the cost of borrowing and insurance and so on. As I said, I will ensure there is a focus on these matters throughout the Departments. We must continue to use our taxation policies to promote a business-friendly environment. That is what we are about in the Department for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. I will ensure these issues are raised for business with the Minister for Finance.

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