SFA told of reversal in Dublin's industrial slump

THE industrial decline of Dublin has been reversed dramatically over the past two years, the Minister for Enterprise and Employment Mr Richard Bruton told the annual conference of the Small Firms' Association (SFA) yesterday.

Mr Bruton said the number of people employed in Dublin at the end of 1996 in manufacturing and internationally traded services was the highest since 1982. Internationally traded services had been the driving force behind this reversal, he said.

Figures released by Mr Bruton show employment in manufacturing and internationally traded services as having dropped from 73,194 in 1982, to 57,790 in 1987. The figure was 60,499 in 1994 and 71,207 in 1996.

The figure for internationally traded services has grown from 5,895 in 1990 to 17,076 in 1996.

Mr Bruton, making his last public appearance as minister, announced the government was to establish an Institute of Transport and Logistics. The institute will be a centre of excellence in research, training and education aimed at making Ireland a key location for the systems logistics or chain management functions of large manufacturing and logistics companies. It is understood the institute will be linked to the Dublin Institute of Technology.

The task for the future was "about really cracking the competitiveness challenge," Mr Bruton said.

Revenue Commissioner Mr Dermot Quigley told the conference about two new initiatives for the business sector.

Reimbursed subsistence expenses to employees, including directors, may now be made up to civil service levels without the need for formal approval. The initiative is aimed at reducing the administrative load on businesses, although appropriate records must still be kept. The Revenue Commissioners have produced a brochure explaining the new scheme.

The second initiative is a new system of automatic tax clearance which revenue is phasing in. Starting this August holders of current tax clearance certificates whose tax affairs remain in order, will not have to reapply for a new certificate. Each case will be looked at by Revenue and a new certificate issued without any need to reapply.

The system is also being amended so that one certificate will suffice as far as possible for all purposes for which a certificate is needed.

The chairwoman of the SEA, Ms Lorraine Sweeney, said the incoming government must now honour pledges made to the country's 150,000 entrepreneurs prior to the recent general election.

She pointed out that in a letter signed by Mr Bertie Ahern and Ms Mary O'Rourke prior to the election they said a 25 per cent tax rate on profits below £100,000 for all non 10 per cent corporation tax companies, would be introduced by Fianna Fail in government. They also said a flat rate of 30 per cent would be introduced up to £250,000 of profits.

Ms Sweeney called on Mr Ahern to introduce such tax changes in his government's first budget.