According to the ACCI, who are celebrating their 50th anniversary this year, “The Chamber Conversations Series will place key stakeholders of the US business community in Ireland in direct conversation with the membership of the American Chamber, in the form of webcasted interviews.”
During his interview Mr Kenny said that his Key message is that the government is going to implement its mandate which is to fix the problem with the public finances, thus putting people back to work and providing an environment and business atmosphere that will demonstrate that by 2016, Ireland is going to be the best small country in the world to do business.
With respect to tax harmonisation in Europe and the corporate tax rate of 12.5 per cent in Ireland, Mr Kenny said that the 12.5 per cent tax rate has been ‘fundamental’ to Ireland’s business strategy for many years. “We have been very consistent on that, NO change, there will be no change, it’s broad, it’s transparent, and it is very important for Ireland,” stressed Mr Kenny.
With respect to the common consolidated corporate tax base in the EU Mr Kenny said “We do not support this.” Mr Kenny noted that the EU has a legal responsibility to produce legislative proposals and the government will discuss those, but “we are not supporters of the common consolidated corporate tax base,” reiterated Mr Kenny in his interview that seemed to be a reassurance message for corporate America during times of uncertainty in Europe.
Mr Kenny stressed that leanness and cost effectiveness in how public monies are spent will increase Ireland’s competitiveness by driving down costs and thus creating an environment more opportune to doing business.
“We have a very young talented work force and we have flexibility within our education system to meet the needs and requirements of American business,” said Mr Kenny who added that the Minister for Education was bringing in reforms in the education system to make sure that Ireland maintained and progressed the standard of education here. Thus assuring the quality of the workforce in Ireland.
Greater contact and co-operation between business and education will, in the Taoiseach’s opinion, help bridge the gaps that may be there at present when it comes to certain skills shortages.
“At my meeting with the Chamber here today we discussed a greater potential between second level and business as well as between third and fourth level and business,” said Mr Kenny.
In closing, the Taoiseach said he wants to see greater recognition for Irish workers’ productivity which Mr Kenny believes matches any workforce around the globe, especially now that the cost base in Ireland has been reduced. The government is also working on reducing it further, with cuts in energy costs and costs associated with red tape as well as removing obstacles in doing business.
“We have an open door for business to government, to work with business in the interest of all the people in the country. I like to think that people are happy going to work in the knowledge that they are contributing to their economy, their own lives and the company for which they work,” said Mr Kenny, noting that the potential was enormous for Ireland but so too were the challenges for the country.
“There has never been a better time to be in politics and to work with business … the message that I’m sending out is that on the centenary of the 1916 Rising we will be the best small country in the world to do business,” concluded Mr Kenny.
