Chambers Launch Manifesto for Election

Chambers launches Election Manifesto for Growth



Chambers Ireland has today launched its election manifesto “A Manifesto for Business – A Manifesto for Growth” examining the six core themes that the Irish Chamber network believes are necessary requirements for future growth. In addition to calls for the timely delivery of a first rate infrastructure, retaining our low tax environment and unleashing more competition in the energy and public transport sectors, the document makes recommendations to assure Ireland’s continued progress.

Speaking at the launch, Chambers Ireland President David Pierce said “while Ireland has experienced an outstanding period of economic progress, the policies which have facilitated our growth, will not necessarily be the ones to maintain it in the future. Accordingly, we must build on those policies that have delivered so much in recent times, while also preparing for the inevitable adjustments that must come.”

In the context of ensuring a competitive business environment, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive John Dunne said, “the World Bank ranks Ireland 80th in terms of favourable employment regulations, this is bad for business. We call on the next government to commit to only update regulations on two set days per year. In addition, all Health & Safety and Employment legislation should be consolidated into a single act to simplify the administrative burden for companies,” he added.

In reviewing future cost commitments, Dunne stated, “the next Government should commit to publishing a statement of national liabilities—such as pensions—in the National Accounts thereby providing greater clarity on our future responsibilities.” He also called on the government to provide a redundancy option for public servants.

Regarding the ongoing debate over income taxes Dunne said “almost 40pc of the workforce does not pay any income tax at all. We believe that this number is too high and does not ensure that enough taxpayers are sensitised to Government spending. Accordingly, Chambers Ireland believes that the incoming government should ensure that 1/3 of taxpayers pay no income tax, 1/3 pay the standard rate and 1/3 pay the top rate, whatever that rate may be” he added.

Turning to the delivery of an educated flexible workforce, Dunne said “with the expansion of the school curriculum, particularly at primary level, employers are concerned that not enough time is being allocated to the basic requirements of reading, writing and arithmetic. Accordingly, we call on the next Government to lengthen the school day by one hour. This will assist in maintaining standards of education while also covering the expanded ICT and science curriculums,” he noted.
“We must also provide additional tax credits for citizens returning to education while ensuring that our third level system is incentivised to properly support part time learning via provision of the same level of capitation grant for night as for day students,” he concluded.

Business Calls for Carbon Tax

Energy being the flavour of the month, with the EPA about to publish a document showing our first emissions rise in four years, Chambers Ireland have published a policy document calling for a shadow Carbon Tax.

The Chambers, the largest business organisation in Ireland, argued that a Carbon Tax was needed to change consumption patterns. However it was argued that business did not trust government to implement the tax and as such wished to see the development of a model which would be revenue neutral and would not destroy the competitiveness of Irish business.

We await the reactions of the Government and the Greens in relation to the EPA report and the Chambers call.