De Burca calls for new training certificates to capture ‘green-collar’ job opportunities
Ireland should follow Spanish lead on professional accreditation
The Green Party’s candidate for Dublin in the European elections today called for the implementation in Ireland of European initiatives to train, accredit and certify Irish trade professionals in new ‘green-collar’ trades. She was speaking at a seminar on green economics in Buswell’s Hotel in Dublin today.
According to Senator Deirdre de Burca, this should be modelled on the Spanish government’s approval of 18 new professional certificates, which represent the official accreditation of professional skills for certain labour market activities.
“These certificates respond to the labour market needs of certain emerging professions such as microbiological and biotechnological trials, renewable energies and those related to environmental issues, such as ecological agriculture and the management and assembly of wind and solar power plants,” said de Burca.
“These certificates and their related training aim to cover new labour market needs stemming from the emerging ‘knowledge society’. By the end of 2010 it is expected that the total number of official certificates will amount to 700,” she said.
“The Spanish have the lead here, and their workers will find it easier to find good, stable employment in the emerging green industries. As the European Commission make cuts in national emissions mandatory, and as the price of fossil fuels increases again, properly-certified workers will have a clear advantage in gaining contracts, both at home and abroad. When the Services Directive is fully implemented across the EU over the next few years, this will mean that Irish companies and Irish workers with appropriate accreditation will be able to compete for contracts in the Green economy across all EU Member States.”
“As a Green Party Member of the European Parliament, I will seek further funding for Ireland under the Lisbon 2000 scheme, an EU fund that provides for skills training and lifelong learning. It is also clear that we cannot have a number of different national certification schemes. A single, Europe-wide, green-collar certification scheme is essential to ensure a supply of qualified workers who will be able to exploit the new job opportunities in Europe’s emerging green economy,” Senator Deirdre de Burca said.
