Irish PM says job creation remains top priority for gov't

Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny said on Tuesday that job creation would remain the coalition government's top priority.

"It is essential that by 2018, everyone who wants a job, can get a job," Kenny said.

Tuesday marked the fourth year the coalition government has been in office, during which Kenny outlined priorities for the next 12 months of his five-year term.

The political parties in Ireland are gearing up for an election close to the latest possible date of April 7, 2016.

"We are building a sustainable enterprise and export-led economy. With real skills, real opportunities, creating real jobs," he said, adding, "our plan is to help create 40,000 new jobs this year and to achieve full employment by 2018."

Kenny said this was the key to attracting home the tens of thousands of young Irish people who left during the economic crisis.

"Their plight is a tragedy for their families but is also a massive loss to our country," he said.

"They are the next wave of entrepreneurs, innovators and job creators that we need to secure recovery for Ireland. We must ensure coming home is an attractive option."

Kenny said his government had begun the process of cutting the universal social charge (USC) - introduced in 2011 - and income taxes for workers, with a particular focus on low and middle-income earners.

"For the first time in seven years, working families are now seeing a modest rise in their take-home pay. We will reduce the USC and tax rates further in the next budget," he said.

"Well-designed tax cuts, that reward hard work and enterprise and help create jobs, generate the resources we need for better services and more investment," Kenny added. Endite