Time needed to bring economic benefits to ‘provincial’ Ireland

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said Ireland needs another three to five years of political stability to bring the benefits of a rising economy to "provincial" Ireland.

Mr Kenny, speaking at the Government’s latest Action Plans for Jobs announcement in Leopardstown, Dublin, said the Coalition wanted to spread the benefits of economic improvements throughout the country.

He said everything that needed to be done could not be achieved in 2015, but another three to five years of political stability was required to ensure economic stability.

“We want to spread the benefits of a rising economy throughout provincial Ireland and to all areas around the country. It can’t actually happen, all of it, in 2015 obviously, as far as we can assess you need a further three to five years of political stability which breeds economic stability,” he said.

Mr Kenny said the Government was committed to further tax reductions for 2016. They would be announced in the Budget, to be presented at a date to be confirmed in October.

He re-iterated the Government’s target of full employment by 2016.

“That means there will be a job for every working-age man or woman who wants one,” he said.

Minister for Jobs Richard Bruton said Ireland needed to build stronger regions with a stronger competitive edge.

He said there should be a better environment for entrepreneurial people who were “willing to take their courage in their hands” and start up their own businesses.