Not all is despair. Ireland has an optimistic and forward looking population, prepared to support good leadership and ideas. This is a core tenet of our proposal. SMEs can lead Ireland out of recession. We propose a three strand approach: 1; Establish National Recovery Bond to address credit shortfalls to SMEs. 2: Reconfigure Minimum wage (without reducing it) to increase competitiveness. 3: Establish National Pension Fund to focus on Irish investment & significantly address national pensions concerns.

In 2008 the National Lottery reported that they paid out €455 million in prize money. Along the way they also provided much needed support funding to many community, arts and leisure projects and activities to name but a few. But could the nation be benefiting more from our National Lottery? This project proposes that the Government bring in legislation to make all lottery winnings subject to a temporary 10% Job Creation Levy.......Now this may sound a little harsh on the winners but we must remember that these are extraordinary times and such times call for extraordinary measures. Why is Ireland ready to take on this challenge? To be honest we have no choice. Things are just too bad to ignore any potential source of income to support job creation and this really is money for nothing. The challenge is not in generating the money but ensuring it is administered effectively.

I propose that Ireland positions itself as a world centre of Shariah compliant funds. In attracting Shariah compliant funds Ireland could use its reputation in the Muslim world as a world leader in the horse breeding industry to show that it can be a world leader in other industries. The Irish economy currently has a large number of unemployed engineers, accountants, bankers, and other highly qualified individuals. The availability of employees with such strong analytical skills would be attractive for a Shariah fund looking for a place to establish itself. Along with creating employment this proposal would help to raise the Irish profile in the Middle East. If managed correctly this could lead to an increase in FDI from Middle Eastern countries which in turn could be used to foster indigenous Irish firm. Funds are easily movable businesses, and this proposal would envisage Shariah funds being located throughout Ireland providing employment for communities throughout various regions More...

Many people have creative and marketable ideas, but lack the financial backing and business know-how to commercialise these ideas. When jobs were plentiful, many such ideas remained as hobbies. However in the current climate, every new job matters, and providing the backing and financial assistance to allow market ready ideas flourish would be of value. This proposal aims to establish a new funding model together with access to a variety of supports for fledgling businesses. Importantly this scheme offers everyone who cares about Ireland the opportunity to become involved in supporting job creation by donating time, skills or money. As a nation we need to stop blaming and complaining, and act positively to make a difference.

Your building contractor asks you for a 50% deposit of €20,000.00 up front for the window manufacturer on your new house project. What do you do? What if the builder goes out of business after you give him the money? What if the window manufacturer goes out of business? The window manufacturer doesn’t trust you or the builder and won’t even order materials until he has a 50% deposit as security. The builder doesn’t trust anyone, he’s suspicious of the Employer’s reticence in parting with his money and doesn’t want to pay his sub-contractors until he secures his own payments. Welcome to the post “Celtic Tiger” world of Irish Construction.

We will provide very early stage funding to software developers in the internet and mobile application spaces to enable them to turn their ideas into companies with compelling investment potential. We will invest small amounts for limited periods of time. Upon product completion, we will market our funded companies to venture capitalists and larger businesses who can bring them to the next level. Ireland is ideally positioned to target the fast growing internet and mobile application space. This industry is expected to grow to almost $30 Billion worldwide by 2014. By funding a diverse selection of lean startups in this space, we have the opportunity to create companies that generate significant long term economic value for the country. Only a small minority of companies we fund will be successful. But this means that the large majority of our funded companies will have learned valuable lessons in entrepreneurship which will help them succeed in their next venture. This is the f More...

Put to use the many vacant premises around Ireland to provide business incubators where people can start small businesses. This concept works very well throughout the world as show by the National Business Incubation Association (U.S.A.) (www.nbia.org) and its local affiliate organisations. Businesses starting in incubators have a better chance of success than entrepreneurs starting on their own

THIS PROJECT IS ABOUT IRELAND IN THE WORLD, AND THE SEVENTY MILLION PEOPLE WORLD WIDE WHO ARE IRISH IN ANCESTERY OR HOLD IRISH PASSPORTS. MUINTIR CHANGES THE WAY WE BRAND IRELAND AND IRISH GOODS AND SERVICES, IT PROMOTES A CULTURAL SHIFT IN UNDERSTANDING THAT BEING IRISH BY BIRTH OR ANCESTRY, WE ARE A MIXTURE OF VARIED SETLTERS, VIKING, FRENCH, , WELSH ENGLISH, SCOTTISH, JEWISH, FLEMISH, IN THE PAST, AND IN RECENT TIMES, A NEW POPULATION HAS BEEN ADDED TO THAT MIX. OUR INDUSTRIAL AND CRAFT PRODUCTS ARE EQUALLY DIVERSE, AND MUINTIR TWINES THIS DIVERSITY INTO A NEW GLOBAL MARKET AND IRELAND SHOWCASE. IT’S A TWO WAY MARKETPLACE –COMPANIES OWNED OR STAFFED BY THE IRISH ABROAD WOULD HAVE AN EQUAL PLACE WITH INDIGENOUS COMPANIES, LEADING TO NEW LINKS, LEARNING AND PROFITIBILITY. ONE OF THE MAIN THEMES TO EMERGE FROM THE ATTENDEES AT THE GLOBAL IRISH ECONOMIC FORUM WAS THE IMPORTANCE OF IRISH CULTURE TO THE IMAGE OF THIS COUNTRY ABROAD.…. AS WE STRIVE TO PROMOTE IRISH CULTURE AND More...

My idea is based on the idea of providing immediate much required cashflow to the Irish government, voluntarily funded by individual taxpayers in return for increased tax credits in the future. The concept would work similar to that of reduced monthly mortgage payments in return for an upfront lump sum to the mortgage lender. For example: I have savings of €10,000 at present earning very little interest on which I pay DIRT. I invest this sum of €10,000 with Revenue Commissioners for a period of say 5 years Revenue has the benefit of my cash immediately interest free, thus reducing their borrowings at very high rates internationally. I get the benefit of increased tax credits for the amount invested for 5 years. So instead of an annual tax credit of €1.830, I would now receive a higher tax credit of approx €2,350 for each of the 5 years. At any time I can withdraw my investment from the Revenue but obviously I would lose the benefit of the increased tax credits going forwar More...

In this proposal we show how franchising offers a golden opportunity to create sustained economic growth in Ireland. We discuss how a concerted effort to promote franchising, to remove barriers to international franchisors and to export existing Irish businesses via franchising can bring about new jobs, new skills and re-instate national pride in Irish business.