Fine Gael TD for Cork South Central, Jerry Buttimer, has today (Friday) welcomed the announcement by Apple that it is creating 500 new jobs in its Cork operation.
 
“This is fantastic news for Cork which has been the home of Apple in Ireland for the last 30 years. Today’s announcement is testament to the faith Apple has in the quality of the Irish workforce, by showing that we can provide the technical expertise to support the expansion of its growing business across Europe.
 
“Today’s announcement comes on the back of a number of significant foreign investment announcements over the last number of months.
 
“Creating jobs is the Government’s number one priority and I would like to thank the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton, as well as the IDA, who have been working closely with Apple over the last few months, both in the USA and Ireland, to make today’s announcement happen.”

Posted under Carrigaline, Cork, Cork City, Douglas, Economic, Employment, South Central, South East, South West

Cork South Central Fine Gael TD, Jerry Buttimer, has said that the Credit Guarantee Bill 2012, which has been published by the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton, will make it easier for small and medium businesses in Cork to access credit and create jobs.
 
“Access to credit is the biggest single challenge facing businesses across Cork. Every week I meet local business people who express their frustration and dismay at their inability to access credit from the banks. Small and medium businesses need a reliable stream of credit to function, particularly in the current difficult trading environment. The Credit Review Bill will directly tackle this problem.
 
“The Bill provides for the establishment of the Temporary Partial Credit Guarantee Scheme, which will help commercial viable SMEs struggling to get finance. It will support businesses that have insufficient collateral, and those that are operating in sectors with which the banks are not familiar. Under the Scheme the State will provide a 75% guarantee to banks against losses on loans they give to firms with growth potential.
 
“This will allow for tens of millions of euro to flow into Irish business, which, in turn, can strengthen and expand their operations and create jobs. Initially, the Scheme will facilitate an extra €150 million in lending per year – that will benefit more than 1,800 businesses across the country. This lending will be on top of the lending targets already set down for the two pillar banks.
 
“There are obvious positive knock on benefits for the wider economy from this Scheme. By supporting viable businesses, the Government is helping to get people off the live register and stimulate local economic activity. It’s estimated that there will be a net gain for the Exchequer of €25 million per €150 million in lending.
 
“For the businesses involved there are also benefits beyond the initial access to credit; the Scheme will allow them to build up a positive track record with the lender, which should make it easier to secure traditional loans in the future.
 
“The publication of the Credit Guarantee Bill is a key commitment under quarter one of the Action Plan for Jobs. A range of other measures under the plan will be delivered this year aimed at improving conditions to help businesses to flourish and create jobs.”

Posted under Economic, Employment, National Work

 
Fine Gael Cork South Central Deputy, Jerry Buttimer, has welcomed the Government’s decision to hold a referendum on the Fiscal Stability Treaty, announced this afternoon by the Taoiseach (Tuesday) in the Dáil.
 
“I welcome the Government’s decision, based on the advice given by the Attorney General, that a referendum should be held on the Treaty on Stability, Co-ordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union.
 
“The Government has taken heed of the AG’s advice on this matter and will now ask the Irish people to give their opinion on the text of the Treaty and its implications for Ireland.
 
“We have made dramatic inroads in the past year since the Government came to office to restore or reputation internationally, and the ratification of this Treaty represents the next important stage in ensuring economic stability and a jobs-led recovery.
 
“The Taoiseach has said all along that if a referendum was needed, we would have one. Today, the Government has announced that it will consult the Irish people, and ask their opinion on the matter.
 
“It is vital that the people are given a choice of where they see Ireland in the future. I believe that the electorate will choose to endorse this Treaty and to build on the steady progress the country has made in the past year. Ratification of the Treaty will reaffirm Ireland’s commitment to the European Union, ensuring stronger fiscal rules for all signatories to the Treaty. This will ensure that a reckless approach to budgetary matters will become a thing of the past.
 
“There has been no attempt to hide behind the AG’s advice where this Treaty is concerned. The Government has taken the independent advice offered and will now give the people an opportunity to state their views on this issue of critical importance.”

Posted under Economic, Europe, National Work