Enda still welcome at corporate functions

He might be getting a hard time on doorsteps in the run-up to the local and European elections but Enda Kenny can still count on a warm reception at corporate functions.

The Taoiseach was well received yesterday by delegates at a conference hosted by the Federation of International Banks in Ireland (FIBI) on the future of the International Financial Services Centre. He graciously took on board comments made earlier by FIBI chairman Eamonn Tuohy about the need to bring down personal taxation if Ireland is to continue to attract high-end foreign direct investment to the IFSC.

“Income tax is a problem,” the Taoiseach acknowledged, adding that if the Government had the “resources and capability” to do something about it over the next two budgets, it would.

Enda talked about revamping our approach to the IFSC, to keep it at the cutting edge of financial services and to continue generating new employment.

He trotted out the well-worn lines about Ireland being picked by Forbes magazine as the best place to do business and that the country was on track to reduce the deficit to 3 per cent by 2016 and to reach full employment by 2020.

He also talked of how he has encouraged secondary school students to set up their own companies – to give it a go and not be afraid to fail.

The Irish people had rolled up their sleeves and put the country back on its feet again, said Enda, looking directly into the eyes of delegates. He would have loved to have stayed for the entire conference – “I might learn something about this” – but affairs of State awaited him.

His parting words were to encourage Tuohy to take those gathered onto the roof of the Marker Hotel during the coffee break to enjoy the view rather than "wallowing" in our problems.

With that, he was heading out the door to a round of applause. If only it was so easy on the hustings.