Taoiseach Enda Kenny has criticised the Irish media for creating a “wall of cynicism, disappointment and disillusionment”
Mr Kenny described an online car parts and accessories retailer MicksGarage.com as a "big statement about modern Ireland" which does not get enough attention.
MicksGarage.com was set up by twin brothers Mick and Ciaran Crean (38) in 2004 from a bedroom and currently employs 32 people at a warehouse in Park West, Dublin.
It intends to expand with a €2.3 million investment and create 65 new jobs over the next two years.
Speaking during a visit to their warehouse yesterday, Mr Kenny said: “That’s the kind of story that should be in the Irish news. That’s the kind of story I should be hearing about in the national programmes talking about people like you when everywhere you go you meet a wall of cynicism, disappointment and disillusionment. This is the kind of story that needs to be heard by so many others.”
Mr Kenny said he had visited interns at LinkedIn earlier this week and they had impressed upon him that there were opportunities for young people in Ireland.
“A lot of young people who have degrees should think about these programmes before they go to Brisbane or Vancouver or wherever else, that there are opportunities here and they should follow them.”
He also said Ireland was in a better place than the other countries which are struggling in Europe.
"I was in Portugal the other day and I was talking to Prime Minister (Pedro Passos) Coelho. They have got deeper challenges than we have because they don't have the industrial base that Ireland has and in Spain they have 200,000 public servants gone and 54 per cent unemployment. Moving on to Greece and Italy and the challenges it has as a Government and here's Ireland making serious decisions and moving towards an exit of the programme with economic forecasts for growth and 1.2 per cent heading towards 2015, 2016.
“When we get up on higher ground, that’s where the future lies.”
Mr Kenny urged more Irish businesses to get online and he said the Government was bringing forward initiatives to get 2,000 Irish companies trading online in the next 12 months.
