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TAOISEACH ENDA KENNY said in an interview with CNBC today that although Ireland has exited its bailout programme, the country still has hills to climb.
He told the American network that the single biggest crisis facing the European Union is youth unemployment, adding that the EU has got to make decisions that will help the single market “rise to its potential”.
Commenting on Ireland specifically, Kenny said that there is a huge “talent pool” in the country.
“Many leave to get experience, many leave and go to places around the world and come back with that experience,” he said, outlining the government’s aim to “recover all the jobs that were lost during economic crisis by 2020″.
World Economic Forum
Meanwhile, when the Minister for Finance Michael Noonan, who was also questioned by the American network, was asked whether he could categorically deny that Irish banks would need a so-called bail-in, he answered: “I can”.
Noonan said that the banks do need need capital, but that extra provisions needed have been put in place.
Speaking in Davos, Switzerland, where they are both attending the World Economic Forum, Kenny said he agreed with the President of the European Central Bank, Mario Draghi, that Europe still had a way to go, stating:
… We must not be complacent, and we will not be complacent in Ireland - we recognise fully the challenge still facing our people, still facing the government in terms of rectifying our public finances, restructuring our banks…
He went on to say “just because we have exited the bailout doesn’t mean we still don’t have hills to climb, we have – many of them are really challenging for our people, but we know we have the capacity to do that…”
Young people
The Taoiseach said it was important to maintain “the momentum we have had, keep to our targets, keep steady hand on the tiller here, open the doors for business… and do not tax work out of existence, give young people opportunity to have careers…”.
He added that there was a need to grow indigenous industry – “which means the further fixing of our banks and we want to eliminate the concept of mortgage distress which is so important for people”.
Hard work
Listing off Ireland’s traits, he said: “We have always been pragmatic, productive and never afraid of hard work – the story of the last three years is the story we intend to continue for the time ahead.”
When asked how Ireland is doing, the Finance Minister Michael Noonan said that Ireland is “doing okay”, highlighting that the country has returned to strong credit ratings and that the “prudent” growth targets are likely to be achieved.
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Great news especially with Brexit on the horizon. The US beef market is absolutely huge, and we produce a far superior product to their domestic offering.
Big kudos to Board Bia for sorting this out for Irish beef farmers.
@James Keane: Slightly of subject. Somebody should show this to all the people in the UK who voted for Brexit. Like we now are with the U.S. in respect of our beef. Outside the EU the UK will be subject to laws and regulations from within the EU if they want to export to the EU. So now the UK will be subject to the EU laws but without any say in making them or they just stop exporting to the EU. Clever people!
@Mary Murphy: You should get a job in the Department for the Bleedin Obvious. The people in the UK knew the consequences of brexit.
@Ian Walsh: Exactly, they knew they would get control of their borders, to stop them bloody immigrants (they won’t), they’d get back 350mill per week for the NHS (they won’t) and they get to stunt opportunities for future generations (actually, this one they will)
@James Keane: Especially in conjunction with Amazons take over of Whole Foods. I can see them trying to gain a larger market share for their high quality grocery store. Not to mention Amazon Prime grocery deliveries.
Grass feed beef is much healthier than grain fed beef for human consumption.
Grain fed beef contributes significantly to arterial and cardio vascular disease.
@Tony Daly: That’s because grass fed is high in omega 3, an anti inflammatory, also found in fish oils. Grain fed have a higher omega 6 which in excess is pro inflammatory.
Grain feeding is also inhumane as it damages the digestive tract of the animal that has not evolved to eat it. Even humans used to soak grains in an acid medium before grinding for flour as grains are seeds and have protective toxins in their raw form.
You can’t beat a lovely juicy medium to rare Irish steak cooked and prepared by a well trained chef.
Makes you wonder what’s in all those foreign cattle?!
@Mary McDonagh Faherty: Beef and Milk?
@Stephen Devlin: and angel dust
This shows how vital it is that we in ROI patrol the border with NI after Brexit. It’s in our interest to ensure our products are not contaminated with British products.
@Fred Jensen: Oh yeah? Remind us all how airtight the NI border was the last time there were border controls.
@Fred Jensen:
Build a wall!!! The DUP will pay for it.
And can we also have a choice?
And be able to sample a piece of American beef
Or is it one way traffic for the 90 % of Irish exported beef
@Thaddus T Sawballs: im sure Mr Trump would agree with you there.
@Thaddus T Sawballs: ifa seem scared shitless of South or North American Beef but are all aboard the gravy train to sell their own.
@Thaddus T Sawballs: go to McDonald’s they still have The Great Taste Of America burgers lol
@Thaddus T Sawballs: go to McDonald’s they still have The Great Taste Of America burgers lol
@Shawn O’Ceallaghan: it’s the me fein attitude
You have no choice but Irish beef
They feed you this bullscutter about Angus beef being the best beef?
Like you don’t have a say ,it’s the best because we say so now eat it and shut your mouth
They want to export to every country in the world
But under no circumstances let any foreign beef in here, all angel dust and hormones bullshit they trot out
@Thaddus T Sawballs. Why should EU farmers be forced to jump through all the hoops to produce traceable beef, when South American farmers can sell in the same market place while not coming close to the standards of EU beef farms? Double standards.
@Do the Bort man: if I could only get a bit of EU beef,
Where did you see any Spanish French of German beef in any shops here
@Thaddus T Sawballs: Thats like asking why can’t you get any German, Spanish or French snow in Greenland. We have more than enough here to meet our demand, imported beef from other EU countries would be more expensive for the consumer in Ireland, so they are at a disadvantage straight away.
Giving good quality beef to Americans is just a waste of good meat…everyone knows they would eat any old $hit.
Fantastic news for Irish farmers and only right because they put every effort into giving us healthy meat. Unlike the U.S. they wont find any steroids and crap that they love to feed animals over there to bulk them up.
Good news, however only very select farms will actually benefit from this. I’m not complaining though!
i wonder how much could the beef market be worth to ireland??
Pity the animal has to have a violent death. Must be very frightening for the animals.
@Niallers: its not a violent death.
@Do the Bort man: I don’t think they wait for them to die in their sleep.
@Niallers: it’s possible to die violently in your sleep.
@Do the Bort man: halal deaths can be quite violent for the animal when pre-stunning technique is not followed.
@Sean: correct halal can be barbaric, but it’s hardly ever used in Ireland.
have your say