Jack Golden, Crh - Lisbon Treaty
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Lisbon or
Bust
As Ireland prepares for the second coming of the Lisbon referendum, Jack Golden (Human Resources Director. CRH) says that, this time, there’s no going back.
One of the key benefits of our central position in the EU has been the gateway to the market we have provided for US multinationals and increasingly now for companies from a wide range of other countries outside the EU. Sixty per cent of everything this island produces is sold to trading partners within the EU’s single market. A vibrant, efficient and streamlined European Union is vital for all of us whose livelihoods depend one way or the other on this trade. Interestingly while other sectors of the economy, especially retail and constructionrelated activities, have suffered badly in this recession, exports have held up rather well and we should do everything we can to protect this vital sector of our economy.
Public Sector The EU is equally important for our public sector. EU structural and cohesion funds have helped to transform this country. The European Commission has provided a wide range of career opportunities where Irish talent has risen to the highest levels. The skills and relationships they built have benefited this country far more than our size alone would justify. We have all gained from EU initiatives in workplace, competition and environmental legislation.
Sixty per cent of everything this island produces is sold to trading partners within the EU’s single market. Building Confidence We cannot afford to weaken the position of our exporters or make it less attractive for future investment from around the world. Many of the nearly one million jobs created in Ireland over the past 15 years have been in export oriented businesses. While our competitiveness remains a serious issue for this sector, a strong 'Yes' vote for Lisbon will build confidence in Ireland among international and indigenous investors and contribute to our economic recovery and to job retention.
Streamlined Decision-Making We face one of the most important decisions about the future direction of Ireland’s relationship with Europe on October 2nd. The outcome of the referendum will have an irreversible impact on business, employment, and on the prosperity of future generations in this country. This issue is vital for Ireland’s future and it is important that leaders in the Irish business community are strongly supporting a 'Yes' vote on the Lisbon Treaty. Europe has been good for business, good for jobs and remains vital to our economy. Despite the current downturn we have succeeded with the help of our EU partners in creating the modern, prosperous society that we see around us – investing in
8 BI_Autumn09_1-58.indd 8-9
education, improving transport and communications networks, increasing trade, updating our employment and competition legislation and helping to protect the environment. Living standards have improved significantly and approximately a million new jobs have been created.
The Benefits for Ireland There are two important grounds for supporting the Lisbon Treaty: 1. Ireland needs to remain at the heart of Europe to promote job creation, business success and economic growth. 2. Ireland and Irish business will benefit from the proposed changes in the treaty which make the EU institutions more efficient.
An organisation as complex as the EU cannot remain static – it must continue to evolve. The Lisbon Treaty will deliver a more efficient and effective institutions with streamlined and faster decision-making processes. Consider the following: The new rules proposed for qualified majority voting will protect the interests of small economies like Ireland and at the same time make it easier to make important decisions The elected President of the Council of Ministers will give the EU a more stable system of leadership and a stronger position in international negotiations Ireland will retain its right to decide on important issues such as taxation, education, healthcare, justice, family law and defence without any interference from Brussels The treaty will also facilitate cross-border co-operation against organised crime
It will allow for further enlargement of the union, increasing the size of the single market and offering further opportunities, and of course competition for business The treaty gives legal status to the Charter of Fundamental Rights with its commitment to continuing social progress, fair employment legislation and the responsibility of member states to deliver education, health and other public services.
The outcome of the referendum will have an irreversible impact on business, employment and more particularly on the prosperity of future generations in this country. Permanent Representation One notable feature of the Lisbon debate has been the agreement by the European Council to reverse the decision of the Nice Treaty reducing the number of commissioners. Ireland will therefore retain permanent representation on the commission. This will only apply if the treaty is passed and our commissioner has always been a key contact for Irish business in Brussels.
No Going Back While I don’t want to dwell on the negative consequences of saying 'No', it is something we all have to consider before voting on October 2nd. These consequences are real and cannot be ignored. Ireland is small but we have always punched far above our weight in Europe. Despite the size of our economy, we have become a respected partner of Europe’s most powerful countries including the UK, Germany, and France. I believe a 'No' vote, blocking progress in Europe, would seriously undermine this position. The business community wants Ireland to be at the heart of a stronger, more streamlined Europe. Now is the time for us, as members of that business community, to speak out on this critical issue, for whatever is decided on October 2nd, there will be no going back. k
Jack Golden, Human Resources Director, CRH plc Jack Golden is a former president of Engineers Ireland and the German-Irish Chamber of Commerce. He has worked in the USA, Germany, France and Ireland in industries from metal processing to electrical appliances, food and building materials. He spent six years with Continental AG as MD of Semperit Ireland and Continental Pneus in France. He is currently Group HR Director of CRH plc, which employs 80,000 people in 35 countries.
9 18/09/2009 10:18:55
Bust
As Ireland prepares for the second coming of the Lisbon referendum, Jack Golden (Human Resources Director. CRH) says that, this time, there’s no going back.
One of the key benefits of our central position in the EU has been the gateway to the market we have provided for US multinationals and increasingly now for companies from a wide range of other countries outside the EU. Sixty per cent of everything this island produces is sold to trading partners within the EU’s single market. A vibrant, efficient and streamlined European Union is vital for all of us whose livelihoods depend one way or the other on this trade. Interestingly while other sectors of the economy, especially retail and constructionrelated activities, have suffered badly in this recession, exports have held up rather well and we should do everything we can to protect this vital sector of our economy.
Public Sector The EU is equally important for our public sector. EU structural and cohesion funds have helped to transform this country. The European Commission has provided a wide range of career opportunities where Irish talent has risen to the highest levels. The skills and relationships they built have benefited this country far more than our size alone would justify. We have all gained from EU initiatives in workplace, competition and environmental legislation.
Sixty per cent of everything this island produces is sold to trading partners within the EU’s single market. Building Confidence We cannot afford to weaken the position of our exporters or make it less attractive for future investment from around the world. Many of the nearly one million jobs created in Ireland over the past 15 years have been in export oriented businesses. While our competitiveness remains a serious issue for this sector, a strong 'Yes' vote for Lisbon will build confidence in Ireland among international and indigenous investors and contribute to our economic recovery and to job retention.
Streamlined Decision-Making We face one of the most important decisions about the future direction of Ireland’s relationship with Europe on October 2nd. The outcome of the referendum will have an irreversible impact on business, employment, and on the prosperity of future generations in this country. This issue is vital for Ireland’s future and it is important that leaders in the Irish business community are strongly supporting a 'Yes' vote on the Lisbon Treaty. Europe has been good for business, good for jobs and remains vital to our economy. Despite the current downturn we have succeeded with the help of our EU partners in creating the modern, prosperous society that we see around us – investing in
8 BI_Autumn09_1-58.indd 8-9
education, improving transport and communications networks, increasing trade, updating our employment and competition legislation and helping to protect the environment. Living standards have improved significantly and approximately a million new jobs have been created.
The Benefits for Ireland There are two important grounds for supporting the Lisbon Treaty: 1. Ireland needs to remain at the heart of Europe to promote job creation, business success and economic growth. 2. Ireland and Irish business will benefit from the proposed changes in the treaty which make the EU institutions more efficient.
An organisation as complex as the EU cannot remain static – it must continue to evolve. The Lisbon Treaty will deliver a more efficient and effective institutions with streamlined and faster decision-making processes. Consider the following: The new rules proposed for qualified majority voting will protect the interests of small economies like Ireland and at the same time make it easier to make important decisions The elected President of the Council of Ministers will give the EU a more stable system of leadership and a stronger position in international negotiations Ireland will retain its right to decide on important issues such as taxation, education, healthcare, justice, family law and defence without any interference from Brussels The treaty will also facilitate cross-border co-operation against organised crime
It will allow for further enlargement of the union, increasing the size of the single market and offering further opportunities, and of course competition for business The treaty gives legal status to the Charter of Fundamental Rights with its commitment to continuing social progress, fair employment legislation and the responsibility of member states to deliver education, health and other public services.
The outcome of the referendum will have an irreversible impact on business, employment and more particularly on the prosperity of future generations in this country. Permanent Representation One notable feature of the Lisbon debate has been the agreement by the European Council to reverse the decision of the Nice Treaty reducing the number of commissioners. Ireland will therefore retain permanent representation on the commission. This will only apply if the treaty is passed and our commissioner has always been a key contact for Irish business in Brussels.
No Going Back While I don’t want to dwell on the negative consequences of saying 'No', it is something we all have to consider before voting on October 2nd. These consequences are real and cannot be ignored. Ireland is small but we have always punched far above our weight in Europe. Despite the size of our economy, we have become a respected partner of Europe’s most powerful countries including the UK, Germany, and France. I believe a 'No' vote, blocking progress in Europe, would seriously undermine this position. The business community wants Ireland to be at the heart of a stronger, more streamlined Europe. Now is the time for us, as members of that business community, to speak out on this critical issue, for whatever is decided on October 2nd, there will be no going back. k
Jack Golden, Human Resources Director, CRH plc Jack Golden is a former president of Engineers Ireland and the German-Irish Chamber of Commerce. He has worked in the USA, Germany, France and Ireland in industries from metal processing to electrical appliances, food and building materials. He spent six years with Continental AG as MD of Semperit Ireland and Continental Pneus in France. He is currently Group HR Director of CRH plc, which employs 80,000 people in 35 countries.
9 18/09/2009 10:18:55
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