Better Deal Needed for Co. Offaly says Independent MEP
Companies like Covidien in Tullamore must not be put at a competitive disadvantage through the imposition of unnecessary red tape which would increase the costs.
This was stated by Independent MEP Marian Harkin when she addressed a breakfast meeting of the Tullamore Chamber of Commerce on Monday, March 31st.
Quoting economic statistics for Co. Offaly which indicated that average disposable income in the county was the second lowest in Ireland she stressed that every assistance should be given to ensure the maintenance, and hopefully, expansion of employment in existing and new enterprises in the county.
“The current National Spatial Strategy has failed Co. Offaly, with a net loss of 417 IDA supported jobs in the five years between 2008 and 2012”, she said. There should be no repeat of this situation in the future, she said, and the challenge to bodies such as Tullamore Chamber of Commerce was to develop an immediate and persistent lobby programme in relation to the next National Spatial Strategy and the upcoming €1 billion BMW regional development programme currently being finalised.
“As an MEP I worked with the BMW Assembly in helping to secure an extra €100 million for the present regional programme and it is up to the bodies representing Co. Offaly to leave no stone unturned to achieve a fair share of the €1.1 billion to be spent in the coming years”, the Independent MEP said.
It was a most unsatisfactory situation that there was only one IDA organised visit to Co. Offaly in 2013, she said and this resulted from the current policy of the IDA which in turn was influenced by the National Spatial Strategy. “The current National Spatial Strategy has clearly failed Co. Offaly and the Midlands as a whole and a determined effort is needed to secure a change which will spread economic development and jobs creation in a much more balanced way”, she emphasised.
Radical change was necessary and perhaps the time was appropriate to consider the proposal made 14 years ago by a former Chairman of IDA Ireland John Dunne for a city to be developed in the Midlands to act as a counter balance to the growth of Dublin which was sucking in a continuously increasing and disproportionate amount of national development, Marian Harkin said.
One area in which Co. Offaly consistently performed well was in agriculture, she said. “Over 3000 Co. Offaly farmers represents a hugely important economic force and I am happy to have participated actively in the CAP reform process which delivered the maximum budget for Ireland and provides a sound basis for farmers to expand into the future”, Independent MEP Marian Harkin concluded.
Further information from: Marian Harkin MEP
Tel: +086-8341758
E-mail: marian.harkin@ep.europa.eu
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“MEP of the Year ” Award Winner 2011 & 2012
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