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One-quarter of Irish firms plan on hiring new staff soon

Employers expect to create as many jobs as are laid off for the first time since 2009, according to an IBEC survey.

ONE QUARTER OF Irish businesses plan on creating new jobs within the next three months, according to a new survey of IBEC members.

The study shows that companies are steadily growing more confident about the economic situation. Currently the IBEC business confidence index stands at -13, but it has been trending upwards since the end of last year when it stood at -32.

People who own their own business are significantly more optimistic, with a confidence index of +17.

In terms of job creation, employers’ expectations are out of negative territory for the first time since IBEC began the survey in 2009 – meaning that some businesses are expecting to create as many jobs as others lay off. One quarter of employers expect to take on more staff, with roughly half planning no changes and the last quarter expecting a reduction in payroll numbers.

Fergal O’Brien, chief economist with IBEC, said: “Economic conditions across Europe have been hit by a crisis of confidence in recent months but for now it does not appear that this has severely impacted on Irish companies. The majority of Irish businesses remain confident about both their current business performance.”

He added that exports were performing particularly strongly. The survey was compiled of responses from 400 companies, all members of IBEC.

Read more: Clinton: The world is confident about Ireland’s future>

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9 Comments
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    Mute Phil Prendergast
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    Jan 6th 2014, 7:11 AM

    Good article. I do a sexual health schools programme.I think sexual orientation is also important , if raised by parents, it may significantly reduce the difficulties for LGBT children

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    Mute Stabber mac nugget
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    Jan 6th 2014, 8:53 AM

    This sort of thing should be left to the local curate or parish priest

    51
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    Mute Joanna Lynch
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    Jan 6th 2014, 10:13 AM

    Totally agree on sexual orientation. My son is 5 and knows that boys can love and marry boys if they like and girls with girls.

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    Mute Mike Hunt
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    Jan 6th 2014, 10:40 AM

    My sexual orientation is portrait

    50
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    Mute Colm Kelly
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    Jan 11th 2014, 7:44 AM

    Don’t mention it….they’ll get upset

    2
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    Mute Colm Kelly
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    Jan 11th 2014, 7:46 AM

    They will also bugger you for free

    1
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    Mute Peace for All
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    Jan 6th 2014, 8:13 AM

    Perhaps alongside sex ed and sexual health, contraception etc, specifically boys should be taught in school about family law and lack of parental rights because of their gender, that way if it ever goes wrong for them they know to expect nothing in terms of support or services to help them cope. At least they’d be prepared and more cautious both emotionally and financially going into relationships. It might also help to include the fact aswell as being potential perpetrators, that they may be at risk of being a victim of partner abuse and that this may go unnoticed and be scoffed at from all corners of society and again to expect next to nothing in services and supports.

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    Mute declan hegarty
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    Jan 7th 2014, 6:44 AM

    Peace for all ……… That was a very good comment

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    Mute Common Chimpanzee
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    Jan 6th 2014, 7:56 AM

    Just give them this article to read… Conversation avoided!!!!

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    Mute raymond grehan
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    Jan 6th 2014, 7:19 AM

    The importance of deodorant?
    “Boy, 12, collapses and dies after spraying too much Lynx deodorant”
    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/3489942/Boy-12-collapses-and-dies-after-spraying-too-much-Lynx-deodorant.html

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    Mute Louise Kelly
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    Jan 6th 2014, 1:54 PM

    In my opnion, 2 very important subjects are missing – contraception & safe sex

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    Mute Ciaran De Bhal
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    Jan 6th 2014, 8:13 AM

    Ask “your” mother.
    Anyways. I can’t see in this day and age why it’s so hard to have that conversation. It’s not like sex is a taboo subject anymore. Just be factual. Don’t try and he’d anything and don’t hide your own embarrassment by being funny about any part of it.

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    Mute Shane McDonnell
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    Jan 6th 2014, 11:40 AM

    I’m 27 nearly 28, have no kids or none that I know of ;) but I’d never tell me child if it was a lad “you know it’s ok when your older to date and marry boys”, not in a million years

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    Mute Phil Prendergast
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    Jan 6th 2014, 12:30 PM

    All gay people have straight parents….

    67
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    Mute Joanna Lynch
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    Jan 6th 2014, 1:06 PM

    Well Shane, if you were a parent and a good one, you would wish only health and happiness for your child, whatever path they choose.

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    Mute Ryleigh kane
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    Jan 6th 2014, 3:06 PM

    I have two girls,with my partner/girlfriend.They are fostered.Parents are biological entities that do not always equate with mum and dad.

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    Mute Shane McDonnell
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    Jan 6th 2014, 5:24 PM

    Nothing about health and happiness Joanne! Why discuss with a CHILD about been gay! there own course of action will be takin and hopefully they will be straight

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    Mute fusha2020
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    Jan 6th 2014, 6:42 PM

    Its a good job u don’t have any kids then isn’t it you massive muppet!! (or none that you know of Haha ur so funny u sti riddled rodent ) !!

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    Mute Ryleigh kane
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    Jan 6th 2014, 7:03 PM

    Your newest follower on twitter…..

    4
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    Mute Cowenwatch
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    Jan 6th 2014, 7:14 PM

    “And hopefully they will be straight” – ???

    For your own sake Shane, do not have any children, they may only disappoint you and you them!

    36
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    Mute Debi-Nikita Rathbone-Rentzke
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    Jan 6th 2014, 7:36 PM

    So what about children that are adopted by gay parents?

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    Mute Shane McDonnell
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    Jan 6th 2014, 9:16 PM

    Lol don’t respond to fake profiles in a serious manner

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    Mute Shane McDonnell
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    Jan 6th 2014, 9:17 PM

    Cowenwatch

    Yes like most parents would hope their child when older fancies the opposite sex

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    Mute Anti_Social_Network
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    Jan 6th 2014, 9:43 PM

    tell them they are gay, that way they will go straight to p you off

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    Mute Cowenwatch
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    Jan 6th 2014, 10:31 PM

    Shane I don’t have any children myself yet. But if and when I do, I can only hope to God they’re in good health and happy no matter who they are.

    Do you know there are five different genders in the world, not just male and female? Once a person is born, the hospital, especially Western hospitals, decide what gender the child will be. So possibly, you could look like a man and have all the man bits, yet feel like a woman all you life and, by extension, fancy men. Then again, you could be just a man and gay. You wont know this but peoples’ gender is socially constructed and society changes with time so don’t believe everything you think you know is set in stone – it isn’t!

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    Mute Shane McDonnell
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    Jan 6th 2014, 10:39 PM

    Ah don’t start going into that codswobble! if and when I have children, I will never yes never have a discussion with them saying it’s ok to be gay! As I said they will live their own course of life and hopefully be straight! If not obviously I’ll have to deal with it some way

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    Mute Cowenwatch
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    Jan 6th 2014, 10:49 PM

    Oh dear. Well good luck with the future so.

    11
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    Mute Shane McDonnell
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    Jan 6th 2014, 11:28 PM

    What’s very strange is talking to a CHILD about been a gay when they wouldn’t have a clue at that age! What I just said to you in my previous message is what most would do, not tell a child “listen tommy you no it’s ok when ur older if u fancy men”! God that sounds so wrong even typing it

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    Mute Tommy C
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    Jan 6th 2014, 11:31 PM

    Not true Phil Prendergast. Many gay people have straight or gay kids.

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    Mute Tommy C
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    Jan 6th 2014, 11:33 PM

    Shane, it’s ‘being’ gay not ‘been’ gay. Dont have kids.

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    Mute Shane McDonnell
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    Jan 6th 2014, 11:53 PM

    I don’t take any notice of spelling police online! A word misspelt or bit of txt speak doesn’t bother me in the slightest!

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    Mute Simon Jester
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    Jan 7th 2014, 12:08 AM

    Could they not have BI parents too??
    Ah Phil you have NO chance against the good old lads chat behind the bike shed at break time.THATS where you learn the facts of life in an Irish school.brendan Graces version.
    “Wha happens Bottler?” ” Yer Mickey goes all hard .” An wha then?”Ye stick it inside her.” “Wha happens if you dont like cider?”

    7
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    Mute Cowenwatch
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    Jan 7th 2014, 12:18 AM

    Here’s a question for you Shane. Do you think people are born homophobic or do they pick it up as they grow up?

    What I find amazing is Phil Prendergast gives sexual health programs in schools, yet comes across as a bit of a homophobe herself. No offence Phil and maybe I am wrong, but that’s a weird one.

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    Mute Shane McDonnell
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    Jan 7th 2014, 12:50 AM

    Straight answer, havnt a clue! I just hope my kids will be ok! If they end up that way there will be rules in my hous tho

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    Mute Cowenwatch
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    Jan 7th 2014, 1:20 AM

    Not sure who red thumbed you there but the simple answer is: No one is born a homophobe, society breeds it into them, much like racism.

    Ironically, if your interested, it was the English Government who first made homosexuality illegal to get back at Oscar Wilde! Two gentlemen going for a stroll in Hyde park arm in arm was normal before then. Wilde had to leave London after that. I think he ended up living rough on the Parisian streets when he said “We are all in the gutter but some of us are looking at the stars”.

    Anywho, good look with your point of view and go easy on the kids – remember it is society which dictates to us how we should live and the most flawed of conditions is the human one. Peace out!

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    Mute Some Feen
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    Jan 10th 2014, 11:56 AM

    What’s wrong with hoping your kids are straight?

    6
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    Mute Shane McDonnell
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    Jan 10th 2014, 12:11 PM

    Absolutely nothing

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    Mute Patrick Minford
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    Jan 6th 2014, 12:04 PM

    I just tell my son to always wear a johnny

    31
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    Mute mcgoo
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    Jan 6th 2014, 1:43 PM

    Just in Casey

    10
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    Mute Rkmr
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    Jan 6th 2014, 12:00 PM

    I think that parents also need to educate themselves about these topics before going to talk to their children.
    Just tell your kids the truth, make sure they know they can come to you and talk or ask questions

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    Mute Tommy C
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    Jan 6th 2014, 11:36 PM

    When my missus and I gave our eldest sex ed, we told him that some men fancy men or women and some women fancy men or women and in some cases men and women fancied both genders. He didnt bat an eyelid. We told him this was all normal. Just dont lie.

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    Mute Foxys van
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    Jan 6th 2014, 7:58 AM

    Ask you’re mother

    18
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    Mute mise
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    Jan 6th 2014, 8:36 AM

    You’re = you are

    102
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    Mute Debi-Nikita Rathbone-Rentzke
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    Jan 6th 2014, 7:38 PM

    My previous comment was for Phil Prendergrast

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    Mute Anti_Social_Network
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    Jan 6th 2014, 9:42 PM

    One conversation where its better to say nothing. Its bad enough that young people have to put up with the shame of seeing their parents dancing

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