Thursday, October 11, 2007

Courting And Sparking

Fortune 500 executives will be the belles of tonight's New York City ball when Martin McGuinness comes a-courting. "Come away with me," he'll whisper in 500 ears. "The best is yet to be, in peaceful Northern Ireland."

Mr. McGuinness is in town to entice American corporations to invest in Northern Ireland, bringing jobs and weekly pay packets to people who have little more than public service jobs from which to choose. No one's bombing pubs any more, he might point out. The RUC isn't working hand in hand with loyalist thugs to murder Catholics. Wouldn't you like to locate your next call center or manufacturing facility in the six counties?

A conference is planned for Spring 2008 that will, it is hoped, lead to some job creation. Tonight's Celtic Ball is meant to lay the groundwork, not unlike a courtship preceding the proposal. While mingling with the seven hundred honored guests, Mr. McGuinness is expected to entice investors with the ideal strategic location that is the north of Ireland, and he will tout the eager workforce, all educated and trained and just itching to work for Coca-Cola or AIG or anyone who puts a paycheck in their hands.

Things will chug along smoothly until someone asks about corporate tax rates. The Stormont Assembly wanted to match the Republic's low rate, but the powers behind the Assembly over in London said no. So there's a workforce, there's location, and then there's that 12.5% rate in the Republic. Makes for a very tough sell, when the Fortune 500 belles are examining their bottom lines and finding their suitor not up to snuff.

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