| Research, Innovation and Science and EU 2020 Strategy: Discussion with Commissioner Geoghegan-Quinn |
| Tuesday, 29 June 2010 | |
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During a meeting of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Affairs on a discussion with European Commission Maire Geoghegan Quinn on Rthe esearch, Innovation and Science and EU 2020 Strategy, I said: I welcome the Commissioner and we are delighted to have her on board. I also welcome her words and enthusiasm... Those in government, be it at European or national level, believe that the creation of jobs is their responsibility, but I disagree. Their responsibility is to create the environment in which enterprise can creates jobs. Some 20 or more years ago, I was chairman of a hospital that received letters every month asking how many new nursing and porter jobs we had created. This is what caused the problem - the Government believed that the State should have been creating jobs. By creating jobs that were not viable, the difficulties we were in increased. I met Ms Elaine Chao, Secretary of Labour in the previous US Administration. She told me that her role was not to create jobs, but to create the environment in which enterprise can create jobs. This is the message I would like to get across.Recently, I read a book about Israel entitled, Start-Up Nation. I have it with me. It is fascinating that the number of start-up companies in Israel is greater than the number of MEPs. The highest density of start-ups is in the venture capital investment sector. Whatever Israel is doing, it has managed to encourage people to create businesses and be innovative. I love that the Commissioner’s job title includes the word “innovation”. One of her tasks is ensuring that we remove the barriers to entrepreneurship. That we have been discussing the need for more controls and regulation in recent times is understandable, but each time we introduce regulations, we are in danger of stifling enthusiasm, entrepreneurship and the number of start-ups. Our work should be in this regard. I encourage the Commissioner. Her words were worthwhile but, if the jobs we create are not profitable, we must not assume they will be viable. We must encourage start-ups and entrepreneurs and remove barriers. Given the Commissioner’s words, she is going in the right direction. Let us encourage her to continue.
For a record of the full debate, please click here. |
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