Clare Fine Gael TD Joe Carey has today welcomed the announcement of 117 new jobs at US firm Genworth Financial, based at the Shannon Industrial Zone.

He said that the announcement shows that Shannon is still a major strategic and economic location for business in the Mid-West.

While unemployment in the region continues to rise above the national average, Deputy Carey has called on government to implement fully the recommendations of the Mid-West Taskforce.

He said:

“This is very welcome news this morning and shows that there is still scope for foreign direct investment in the Mid-West region if the collective and political will exists. Genworth Financial have been in Shannon since 1997, and currently employ 345 people in the area. Today’s announcement will increase that workforce to 462 over the next three years. At a time when job losses in this region continue to rise above the national average, these jobs are hugely welcome.

“But more now needs to be done by government. It’s not enough for Minister Batt O’Keeffe to visit the region once in a blue moon. If he wants to truly assist this region, then he must tackle the rising levels of unemployment in places like Ennis, Kilrush, Shannon and other areas of Clare.”

“The government commissioned and charged Denis Brosnan to produce a report on this region. That report has been gathering dust in a Minister’s office somewhere, and the work of the Taskforce to date has been made redundant.

I want for the government to make good on their promises to this region. The recommendations of the Mid West Taskforce must be fully implemented if this region is to continue to attract jobs and new business.”