Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We can take it as read and go through it as we proceed. As Deputy Áine Collins and others have said, during our recent familiarisation trip in the first week of January, at all of the various levels we received extremely good feedback on the work done during the Irish Presidency and the Secretary General's Department was signalled out for much praise and good comment. I refer to his staff who are working through the ambassador's office, some of whom we met.

There has been much comment on the work they are doing. Nearly half of the European directives relate to enterprise. We recognise the work that is being done and put on record the good feedback. Could Mr. Murphy refer to the progress on implementing the actions taken in the Entrepreneurship 2020 action plan, the state of play in drafting Ireland's national reform plan and the Department's priorities in that regard? I accept the plan is not due to be published until later in the spring but perhaps he could refer briefly to it. If he cannot, that is okay. Could he also provide an update on the EU-US Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, TTIP, talks? If there is time, could Mr. Murphy also outline the Department’s priorities in the context of the EU for 2014? We have read Mr. Murphy’s statement but he is welcome to read certain extracts from it.