The business groups Engineers Ireland and Ibec said yesterday that the public investment programme must be urgently increased. State investment in public infrastructure must rise urgently, Engineers Ireland and Ibec said SAM BOAL/ROLLINGNEWSThe state is risking serious damage to the economy unless it significantly invests in infrastructure and large projects, experts have warned. Ibec raised concerns after Ireland was ranked 40th of 61 countries for basic infrastructure in the latest World Competitiveness Yearbook. Brian Hayes, a Fine Gael MEP and former junior minister for finance, said last night that he would advise Enda Kenny to prioritise capital investment over tax cuts. Mr Hayes said that spending cuts prompted by the financial crisis had led

Source: The Times May 31, 2016 23:07 UTC