Focus remains on sectors, such as gaming, with future growth potential 
 
Fine Gael Cork South Central Deputy, Jerry Buttimer, has this morning (Thursday) expressed disappointment over the loss of 200 jobs at Blizzard Entertainment which is seeking redundancies from its Cork operation.
 
“Blizzard Entertainment has gone from strength to strength in Cork since the establishment of its customer support centre at the Blackpool Business Park. And the company has experienced significant success with games such as World of Warcraft and Diablo.
 
“The fact that the gaming industry has shown such strong signs of growth and that this sector is one that has been flagged as having solid future potential makes this announcement even more surprising.
 
“This move comes on the back of a global restructuring and review of the company and I am glad that Blizzard has affirmed its commitment to remaining in Cork. Every effort must now be made to find alternative employment for the staff affected and to ensure that all of the redundancies are made on a voluntary basis.
 
“This month we have seen a slight dip in the Live Register figures for the third month in a row, but the Government is all too aware that the numbers out of work remain unacceptably high. That’s why the Action Plan for Jobs has been introduced to put in place measures that will make it easier to create jobs and attract investment. Similarly the Pathways to Work initiative aims to find the most effective ways of putting those who are looking for work in contact with employers looking to fill vacancies.
 
“Cork has a strong presence of ICT and gaming companies and I have no doubt that continued Government efforts to facilitate job creation will be felt in Cork and throughout the country.”

Posted under Cork City, Employment

 
Cork South Central Fine Gael Deputy Jerry Buttimer has called for local business people to voice their views on what government can do to help them protect existing jobs and to create new jobs directly to the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD.  Minister Bruton will be taking part in a consultation meeting on Monday 27th February at 3.30pm in the Silver Springs Moran Hotel, Tivoli, Cork.
 
Deputy Buttimer said “the purpose of the consultation will be to hear the views and ideas of business people on what support they need to protect existing jobs and to create new jobs.  We all hear stories of how regulation and bureaucracy delays business expansion, this is a chance for these issues to be highlighted directly to the Minister.  In keeping with Minister Bruton’s decision consult on the contents of the Action Plan for Jobs he will also use this meeting to invite ideas for further actions which will support business.
 
“The Action Plan on Jobs 2012 is a series of actions which are aimed at facilitating the growth and expansion of businesses.  It is not just a one-off announcement, it is intended that it will be an on-going series of reforms to support businesses.
 
“If we are to create a country which fosters business growth and facilitates job creation it is essential that there is dialogue between government and business people.  This conversation will help address the problems faced by those people who are trying to create jobs.  I would encourage all business people to take part in this consultation process which aims to make it easier to do business in Ireland.”

Posted under Employment

Speaking on the Finance Bill today (Wednesday, 15th February 2012) in the Dáil, Fine Gael Cork South Central Deputy, Jerry Buttimer, said the pro-business approach being adopted by the Government shows its commitments to prioritising jobs and encouraging business.
 
“From day one, the Government recognised that ‘the big challenge for Ireland is to develop a strategy that will allow job growth and sustainable enterprise’, as stated in the Programme for Government. The Finance Bill, together with the Action Pan on Jobs, announced this week, chart a clear way forward to achieving that end.
 
“The key to our recovery is job creation. By putting measures in place to support business by targeting small and medium-sized enterprises and foreign direct investment we can create opportunities for growth and jobs.  
 
“Reforms to the R&D tax credits now mean that credits can be used to reward and incentivise employees. SMEs can also contract out some of their R&D work and retain the full benefit of the available tax credits which will help propel Ireland forward in terms of innovation.
 
“Moves to entice expertise from overseas to Ireland, while encouraging Irish companies to put people on the ground in emerging international markets, will help to grow exports and enhance employment opportunities at home. The BRIC countries have significant growth potential and the Foreign Earnings Deduction will act as a reward for Irish companies who take on the risk of exploring the opportunities for growth in these new markets.  
 
“The Special Assignee Relief Programme will allow developing SMEs to assign employees to these new foreign markets for between one and five years to establish vital trade links. And provision has been made in the Finance Bill to provide for tax relief on income for skilled executives coming to Ireland to work in research. Estimates are that initially between 80 and 100 people might avail of this incentive, each creating between 30 and 50 jobs.
 
“In its attempt to have a jobs-led recovery the Government is demonstrating creative thinking and ambition.  The Government recognises the difficulties facing families today and is working to provide an environment where we can grow our way to recovery. The initiatives being adopted by the Government, in the terms of the Jobs Initiative, the Action Plan on Jobs and Pathways to Work will enable the Government to create 100,000 new jobs by 2016, getting our people off the dole and back to work.”
 
Ends

Posted under Economic, Employment, National Work