Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

One of the Government's main tasks is to ensure that Ireland remains an attractive place to do business and to support the development of economic competencies higher up the value chain. In that regard, we continue to work to maintain and enhance our framework competitive conditions and to promote new areas of competitive advantage, such as by developing our research and development base. We have clear strategies in place to try to deal with the vagaries of a globalised economy. We are not, as Deputy Boyle suggested, in thrall to that economy. It is a fact and a reality with which we must deal and it makes matters far more competitive. We must change and develop our strengths in areas such as research and development, upskilling — we are investing heavily in this regard — and working with companies.

The Government's enterprise agencies also aim to support sustainable, high value added enterprise in Ireland through the provision of mentoring and developmental supports, the enhancement of management capabilities and critical workforce skills in client companies, support for the creation and implementation of strategies for market entry, development and growth and strong supports for innovation, research and development. The manufacturing sector will continue to be a significant contributor to exports, employment and economic growth in 2007 and beyond.

In the past five or six years, more than 440,000 jobs were created in services and 150,000 in high-end manufacturing.

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