Richard Boyd Barrett: Skills shortages fuelled by unaffordable living
Richard Boyd Barrett addressed the Dáil on skills shortages and youth emigration, arguing that unaffordable housing and education costs are driving tens of thousands of young people to leave the country. He framed his argument with reference to classical economists Karl Marx and David Ricardo and said that wealth derives from labour.
The speaker warned that skills shortages exist in every single area of the economy, citing construction, the health service, education and retail as examples. He said these shortages are directly linked to the loss of young people who can no longer afford to live at home.
Richard Boyd Barrett invoked classical economists Karl Marx and David Ricardo to make the point that all wealth derives from labour. He criticised relying on competition as the basis of an economy while stressing the need for the economy to function and for competitiveness not to be undermined by labour shortages.
The speech argued that making housing affordable for young people and removing financial barriers to education are essential to retaining talent. He warned that current costs are forcing increasing numbers, in their tens of thousands, to 'bail out of the country' because they cannot afford to live there.
He noted that an earlier grouping overran and that the session has a maximum of 45 minutes, and asked that the Taoiseach respond in writing. The remarks ended with repeated expressions of thanks to the Taoiseach.
Skills shortages across the economy
The speaker warned that skills shortages exist in every single area of the economy, citing construction, the health service, education and retail as examples. He said these shortages are directly linked to the loss of young people who can no longer afford to live at home.
Economic framing and competitiveness
Richard Boyd Barrett invoked classical economists Karl Marx and David Ricardo to make the point that all wealth derives from labour. He criticised relying on competition as the basis of an economy while stressing the need for the economy to function and for competitiveness not to be undermined by labour shortages.
Housing and education as root causes
The speech argued that making housing affordable for young people and removing financial barriers to education are essential to retaining talent. He warned that current costs are forcing increasing numbers, in their tens of thousands, to 'bail out of the country' because they cannot afford to live there.
Parliamentary timing and request for a written reply
He noted that an earlier grouping overran and that the session has a maximum of 45 minutes, and asked that the Taoiseach respond in writing. The remarks ended with repeated expressions of thanks to the Taoiseach.
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Transcript
Yeah, classical economists Karl Marx and David Ricardo, on different sides of the political spectrum, agreed that all wealth derived from labour. And our biggest problem, and one of our biggest problems at the moment, is we have skills shortages in every single area of our economy. Whether it's construction, in the health service, in education, in every single sector. Retail, you name it. And the reason we have those skills shortages is because increasing numbers in their tens of thousands, young people are bailing out of the country because they can't afford to live here. Now, to me, if we're talking about competitiveness, this is the biggest challenge. I don't really like competition as the basis of an economy, but let's just say we need economy to be functioning in order... Well, it's not a football game, you see. Society isn't a football game. Maybe you think it is. But we need our housing to be affordable for young people, and we need to remove financial barriers to education, which are driving many of our young people... And let your colleague in, or... Yeah, for... Thank you. Now, it's just that an earlier grouping went over time, and therefore the time available to the last group was unfortunately shorter, but there is a maximum of 45 minutes for this session. And so, but perhaps Taoiseach will respond in writing. I'll leave that with you Taoiseach. Thank you, Taoiseach. Thank you, Taoiseach. Thank you, Taoiseach. Thank you, Taoiseach. Thank you, Taoiseach. Thank you, Taoiseach. Thank you, Taoiseach. Thank you, Taoiseach. Thank you, Taoiseach. Thank you, Taoiseach. Thank you, Taoiseach. Thank you, Taoiseach. Thank you, Taoiseach. Thank you, Taoiseach. Thank you, Taoiseach. Thank you, Taoiseach. Thank you, Taoiseach. Thank you, Taoiseach. Thank you, Taoiseach. Thank you, Taoiseach. Thank you, Taoiseach. Thank you, Taoiseach. Thank you, Taoiseach. Thank you, Taoiseach. Thank you, Taoiseach. Thank you, Taoiseach. Thank you, Taoiseach. Thank you, Taoiseach. Thank you, Taoiseach. Thank you, Taoiseach. Thank you, Taoiseach. Thank you, Tao