The Action Plan for Jobs 2012 contains 270 practical measures to be implemented in 2012 by all 15 Government Departments and 36 State agencies, will improve supports for job-creating businesses and remove barriers to employment-creation across the economy. Action Plan for Jobs 2012 aims to deliver on the Taoiseach’s commitment to make Ireland the best small country in the world in which to do business, and increase the number of people at work in Ireland by 100,000 – from 1.8million to 1.9million – by 2016.

While businesses will create jobs, the Government has a major role to play in putting in place the right environment and that the government departments work together to tackle unemployment and create the best conditions for growth and recovery. IBEC welcomes new measures to improve access to credit for SMEs, along with the commitment to improve competitiveness and make Ireland a more attractive location for key sectors.

However, the primary cause of unemployment is the lack of consumer confidence and domestic demand in the economy and there is little in the jobs plans to specifically address this problem.IBEC has already identified to Government a number of innovative and revenue-neutral measures designed at supporting domestic demand including allowing people to release a portion of AVC and personal pension contributions and increased investment in physical and human capital.

IBEC will be closely monitoring the implementation of the plan and will work with Government to achieve the objectives.