If the Government has any interest in creating jobs in Ireland - and in Galway - then it must eliminate corporate taxes on the green technology and energy sector.
This is the view of Green Party Galway City East candidate James Hope, who will propose the elimination of corporate taxes on the green sector at this weekend’s Green Party National Convention.
Mr Hope says such a move would create jobs as the green technology and energy sector is the “one major growth area in the world today” despite the financial crisis.
“Companies that are involved in green technology and green energy production the world over are growing, investing, creating jobs,” he said. “We want some of those jobs to be created in Ireland.”
Mr Hope wants a complete elimination of taxes resulting from the research, development, or production of clean energy or green technology, for a period of 25 years.
“Ireland has everything the green technology and energy sector needs,” he said. “We have a well-educated and highly trained population. We have universities engaged in top-level research, and more access to wind and the ocean than most other European countries.”
Mr Hope added that Galway is “in pole position to benefit” with the Marine Institute, the Environmental Change Institute in NUI Galway, and NUIG researchers actively working on developing green technology and ocean energy.
“We have a talented workforce within a short travelling distance of Shannon Airport, connecting us with both Europe and North America,” he said. “If this plan is adopted, we will see green technology and energy jobs being created in Galway.”
