Speaking after an Oireachtas Committee hearing on Ireland’s economic competitiveness and productivity, Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Enterprise, Trade, and Employment, Louise O’Reilly TD, said the government must heed Sinn Féin’s and the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council’s advice and make Ireland a better place to live in order to protect our competitiveness and productivity.

Teachta O’Reilly said:

“The National Competitiveness and Productivity Council (NCPC) serves as an independent voice and reports in an advisory capacity to the government on issues affecting competitiveness and productivity in the Irish economy.

“Today at the Oireachtas Enterprise, Trade, and Employment the NCPC laid bare the impact our failing housing system and failing social infrastructure, such as childcare and healthcare, is having on our economic competitiveness and productivity.

“In calling on the government to address these problems, they pointedly stated that ‘The attractiveness of a location cannot be focused solely on it as a place to work, but also on it as a place to live’.

“For years now Sinn Féin have been highlighting that the failure to address these issues is not only causing a social catastrophe but is also hindering our economic competitiveness.

“In addition, the NCPC, like Sinn Féin, have underlined the need to create a more robust economy that is less vulnerable to economic shock.

“One of the key ingredients to creating a more robust economy is growing our small and medium enterprises in high-wage, high-growth, and high-productivity sectors, especially in in manufacturing and engineering, ICT, green technology and energy, pharmaceuticals and chemicals, medical technology, and other productive and expanding sectors.

“This means that the government has to step in and provide support and direction in this regard, from resourcing our enterprise agencies, to providing loan schemes, to properly funding research, development, and innovation (RD&I).

“If the government are serious about increasing Ireland’s competitiveness and productivity in the coming years, then they need to focus on building a more sustainable, robust, and diverse economy while simultaneously resolving the housing crisis, the childcare crisis, and the healthcare crisis.”