Govt fingered on competitiveness as Ireland languishes in 22nd place – Varadkar

The World Economic Forum has pointed the finger of blame firmly at the Fianna Fáil Government for Ireland’s poor performance in the latest Global Competitiveness Report, Fine Gael Enterprise Spokesman Leo Varadkar TD has said.

“Ireland is stuck in 22nd place in the World Economic Forum’s competitiveness rankings with the Fianna Fáil Government taking the lion’s share of the blame. The report is scathing about the ‘three Is’ which are holding Ireland back: inadequate infrastructure, high inflation, and inefficient Government bureaucracy. …[more]

A ‘No’ vote in next week’s Referendum would signal a death knell for future Foreign Direct Investment in Ireland according to Fine Gael spokesperson on Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar TD today (Tuesday).

“Ireland has received over fifty billion euro in structural funds and farm-based payments since we joined the EEC in 1973. However, we have benefited much more from the free and unrestricted access that came with the Single European Act and our membership of the Euro. This has allowed us to become the gateway to Europe for hundreds of multi-national companies. …[more]

As Fine Gael Spokesperon on Enterprise, Trade and Employment I introduced the Fine Gael motion on the Competitiveness of the Economy. Please find my speech below. The debate, including speeches from a number of my Fine Gael colleagues can be found online on December 4th and December 5th.

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Enterprise Minister Micheál Martin has finally admitted that Ireland is playing catch-up on broadband access after Fine Gael Enterprise Spokesman Leo Varadkar TD challenged him in the Dáil on the country’s low take-up of high-speed internet.

Speaking during the Enterprise Minister’s Dáil question time, Deputy Varadkar warned that Ireland has fallen so far behind other countries in terms of broadband that it is costing us new jobs and investment.

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Fine Gael Enterprise, Trade & Employment Spokesman Leo Varadkar TD has called on the Fianna Fáil Government to immediately seek alternative investors after US pharma company Amgen indefinitely postponed plans for up to 2,000 high-value jobs in Co. Cork.

“This is a very disappointing development for Cork and the entire southern region. The Amgen facility would have been as significant for Cork as Intel was for Leixlip and as IBM was for Blanchardstown.

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