Over the past few weeks when Im standing on doorsteps people specifically ask me What have you done about jobs We all know this is a challenge – let me tell you specifically what I have done: I was instrumental in the creation of the successful Jobsplus scheme. For three years against some serious opposition I argued the case to incentivise employers to take people off the live register. oireachtasdebates.oireachtas.ie/debates%20authoring/debateswebpack.nsf/takes/seanad2011062200005?opendocument irishexaminer/ireland/2400-long-term-jobless-taken-off-dole-by-jobsplus-scheme-273199.html This Wednesday my colleague Ged Nash Minister for small business is coming to Roscommon to meet with the Chambers of Commerce and LEO to discuss this issue. It is clear that SME’s will be the major jobs vehicle for the most of this constituency and this needs to be our focus. I think we also need to take matters into our own hand at community level. As a founder of the Castlerea credit union you can see what happens when the community come together and work for the common good. Just recently we also set up a committee to sell the fantastic tourism product that Boyle, Castlerea, Ballaghadereen, Frenchpark has to offer. We need to also sell the message that we have now an International airport on our doorstep ie Knock airport so we are fully open for business. And finally though I welcome the fact that unemployment figures have falling in this area I still think we need to not just focus on creating but maintaining jobs. With this in mind I was the first one to call for a regulator in the beef market so that the small farmers in this community can start to get a fair price for their beef. To summarise this isn’t an easy job but I will work 24/7 over the next 18 months on your behalf to see what I can do. What I do know is that no opposition or independent TD will have any impact on the unemployment figures. Give me a chance next Friday. Give me your No 1 vote so I can show you what I can do. #RSL14
Posted on: Mon, 06 Oct 2014 12:02:31 +0000