ELI LILLY EXPANSION FREEZE OF ENORMOUS CONCERN FOR IRELAND
Government sleep walking on Global Enterprise Agenda since Trump election.
Risk posed by delayed Investment Decisions by FDI Community since Trump election very real
Global Diplomatic Assault by Ministers vital to forge new market opportunities
Cork Labour TD Seán Sherlock has called on the Minister for Jobs, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, to ramp up her Department’s engagement with the FDI community to head off anticipated postponed investment decisions in light of the Trump election.
“This Government has been sleepwalking since the inauguration of President Trump. We now have evidence that a new expansion to Eli Lilly in Cork is halted and the creation of new jobs has been put on ice,” said Deputy Sherlock, a former Minister for Research and Junior Minister at the Department of Enterprise.
“The same energy invested by the last Government from 2011 onwards in going out to the world to maintain and secure Foreign Direct Investment is just not apparent with the current incumbents”
Deputy Sherlock, who also served as Minister for a Trade in the Department of Foreign Affairs, also called for all Ambassadors to be recalled and given new directives on how to sustain and attract Foreign Direct Investment.
” We need something akin to a Summit of all State Agencies and Government Departments. Ambassadors with a Trade function need to be recalled. This needs to be held as a matter urgency to warn against complacency and set clear targets for new investment opportunities for companies that export and to assess how we can pitch for more FDI. “
“In 2011, when the country was on the brink of collapse, we took to the skies to secure and protect investment in this country.”
“If a coherent plan was in place then opposition TDs would happily provide pairs to Ministers on a case by case basis where a Trade Mission was being carried out involving State Agencies.”
“We must develop new markets and urgently. The opportunities in Africa is a case in point. If the Trump administration is determined to pursue a protectionist line and the UK is following the same policy, then we must secure new investment. We cannot depend solely on the European market to sustain employment on the scale that the pharmaceutical clusters provide here.”
“We need all our Ministers with an economic to rack up the air miles to ensure that jobs like those in Eli Lilly and around The country, are protected.”
ENDS
Editors Note: SUNDAY BUSINESS POST reported Sunday 12th February that Eli Lilly halting expansion plans in Cork because of Trump administration.