07/05/2009

Thousands Of Jobs At Risk, Claims CIF Boss

The Construction Industry Federation (CIF) has called on the state to immediately introduce the infrastructure bond outlined by the Construction Industry Council (CIC) to save tens of thousands of jobs.

Director General Tom Parlon said the move must be taken "to try to halt the downward spiral in the Irish economy".

Mr Parlon said: "The infrastructure bond is a ready made solution in terms of saving jobs and kick-starting economic activity.

"Our proposal would save 70,000 construction jobs, giving a massive boost to the economy. It is clearly also the case that Ireland needs the infrastructure that will be delivered by this proposal.

"Ireland's competitiveness is undermined by infrastructure deficits in areas such as roads, public transport, telecommunications and broadband, health, education, and water quality. This plan has the potential to make major inroads into addressing these deficits."

The CIF boss warned that investment secured through the infrastructure bond must be in addition to already committed direct government spending: "Government spending on infrastructure has been reduced by over 20% at a time when other economies are increasing construction output to safeguard jobs and stimulate increased activity."

He claimed thousands of jobs have already been lost as a result of the deferral, postponement and cancellation of projects.

"The infrastructure bond proposal is a chance to reverse this trend but only if it is in addition to what is already planned." he said.

"We are fortunate in having a large number of projects, either ready to go or at a very advanced stage, which mean that we can give an immediate boost to the economy through infrastructure spending.

"There is clearly no time to waste on this proposal," added Mr Parlon.

(PR/JM)

Related Northern Ireland Recruitment News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

14 February 2017
40 New Jobs Announced By BrowserStack
Up to 40 new jobs are to be created in Dublin.
11 July 2013
140 Construction Jobs To Be Created In Pfizer Expansion
Labour Deputy Robert Dowds, has welcomed the €130 million investment announced by Pfizer today, in two of its sites in Grange Castle, Dublin and Ringaskiddly in Co. Cork. He said: "This news is a strong indication of confidence in the Irish economy by a prominent multinational and major employer.
12 November 2015
220 Jobs To Be Axed At Potash Mine In Boulby
220 jobs are to be axed at the potash mine in Boulby, near Middlesbrough, Unite the union which has about 800 members at the UK's deepest mine, said this was more disastrous news for the regional economy, following hard on the heels of the announcement by SSI Redcar that it was to axe about 2,200 jobs at Redcar.
10 December 2012
IT Firm Creates 100 New Jobs
Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton, TD, today announced that Mandiant, a specialist provider of IT security solutions is to establish an engineering and security operations centre in Dublin with the creation of 100 new jobs.
06 May 2009
Offshore Company Axes Jobs
Around 150 jobs in Aberdeen and Dundee have been axed after an offshore services company ceased trading. Oceanteam Power and Umbilical has been forced to close when the firm's holding company withdrew its financial support. Staff are based in Aberdeen, at workshops in Dundee and offshore.