'Bounty hunter' Eddie Horkan will receive a hefty $57,000 finder’s fee for getting a US company to move 30 jobs destined for Scotland to Ireland.
Horkan, a 42-year-old civil engineer, is the first person to be paid under the controversial Succeed in Ireland initiative, which pays tip-off money to anyone who tell the government about potential investment. Participants can expect a minimum of $18,800 per job.
Horkan tipped-off the Irish Development Agency after discovering that his Ireland-based Scottish friend Phil McGoldrick was going to head up a new Glasgow office for engineering firm Intergeo Services.
Now the center will be opening up in County Carlow instead.
“The investment was intended to go to Scotland. The company was quite a way down the road with that and had almost made the final decision," Horkan told the Daily Record.
“I introduced my pal to the Succeed in Ireland scheme and it took away a lot of the headaches for him.
“I wasn’t expecting such a tip-off fee because when I started the introduction, I didn’t realize they were planning on hiring so many people.
“It’s a lot of money – practically a year’s gross earnings.”
Succeed in Ireland has a goal to create 5000 jobs in five years, focusing on small and medium-sized firms.
“Organizations working for Glasgow are, and should always be, alert to tactics being used by our competitors," said Glasgow Chamber of Commerce chief executive Stuart Patrick.
“I don’t recall seeing a tip-off fee in practice in Scotland but I can see how, with careful management, this might be a useful tool.”
David Lonsdale, CBI Scotland’s assistant director, said: “While we can’t win every available project, the Government should certainly keep under review the support and financial incentives on offer to attract inward investors.”
Tory MSP Murdo Fraser said: “This scheme appears to be having some success and is taking jobs away from Scotland. The Scottish Government needs to give serious consideration to see if they can match it.”
“You have to admire the Irish for having the imagination to bring in a scheme that rewards those who are able to attract new jobs to their country. We must emulate it.”
Labour Shadow Finance Secretary Ken Macintosh said: “This is an interesting scheme that deserves exploring.”
However, the Scottish Government said: “We have no plans to introduce this scheme in Scotland.
“The Scottish Government and our agencies Scottish Development International and Scottish Enterprise continue to attract inward investment and engage with potential investors all over the world.”
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Searlit | May 30, 2012, 11:59 AM EDT
Murph46 needs to calm down, he's starting to type in capitals. Maybe you need some Xanax. Is that how you learned to deal with people who disagree with your opinions? Your bully tactics won't work on me.
Murph46 | May 29, 2012, 04:53 PM EDT
Searlit says it;s going on -but CAN'TNAME THE COMPANIES! It'sa time for you meds to change again ,that scopolamine is giving you hallcinations!
Bythebay | May 29, 2012, 03:50 PM EDT
Rhode Island was subsidizing Kurt Schilling's Video Games company to the tune of 50 million when they enticed Schilling to move from Massachusetts to Rhode Island. Schilling's company kept losing money and asked for more Rhode Island taxpayers money which Rhode Island refused. Schilling immediately closed the company blaming Rhode Island for its failure. Those of you in the US who haven't heard of these cases there must be hermits.
Searlit | May 29, 2012, 12:08 AM EDT
Well it started in Connecticut during the 80's where a company was going to move jobs from one state to the other. The first instance of it that I remember. I think it was Gov. Weicker, at the time. Anyway, it ended up costing the state about $200,000.00 per job, for jobs that paid only a $35,000.00 salary. The problem has destroyed many states economies. Many factories moved from North to South to take advantage of lower wages, in the southern states. It has really lowered the standard of living for the working class person. Then foreign companies came in and started doing the same thing - making the states compete for jobs. Now, part of our state taxes go directly to these corporations. I would have to do research to give you specifics, but I'm sure you could find this out for yourself. I have lived through the experience, that's how I know about it. Why don't you prove to me that it's not going on?
Murph46 | May 28, 2012, 08:39 PM EDT
Searlit -Please show me a specific instance of shelling out more per jobs than the yearly salaries of the jobs after a few year.If you cannot prove it in writing stop spreading spurious allegations.I know our govt.overspends ,but I have been in this business and know of no such instance.
Searlit | May 28, 2012, 07:35 PM EDT
*ignore the (paying) before regulating.
Searlit | May 28, 2012, 04:16 PM EDT
Be careful with this. Your government, meaning your taxpayers can end up subsidizing corporations, if you're not paying regulating this sufficiently. It was the downfall of job creation in the USA, once the states began to compete with each other for a companies jobs. The government ends up shelling out more per job than the yearly salries of the jobs, after a few years. Also, you end up with fewer jobs than promised at the outset. Not to different than what happens in the building industry, etc. with cost over-runs. It could be another feeding frenzy for the small community of investors, with the average guy's pocket being the target.
Murph46 | May 28, 2012, 10:10 AM EDT
Good for him!Innovative way to bring business to Ireland!