Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

The Government's primary responsibility on enterprise policy is to ensure the broad environment and essential framework conditions continue to underpin and support the development of a sustainable enterprise sector.

In line with the recommendations of the enterprise strategy group and small business forum, over the period of the next national development plan, 2007-13, financial incentives totalling €1.7 billion, and other supports, will be provided through Enterprise Ireland and the city and county enterprise boards to create more knowledge-based, technologically innovative, sustainable and competitive indigenous enterprises.

This will include specific initiatives to stimulate the establishment and development of high potential start-up companies across a range of high value sectors, including manufacturing; productivity improvement initiatives to support manufacturing companies to improve competitiveness through technology and training; a range of initiatives to develop management and international sales capabilities; supports in accessing early stage and development capital and financial planning and advice and mentoring; and supports for entrepreneurship and micro-enterprises, including the provision of local enterprise infrastructure.

The nurturing of a positive culture of entrepreneurship and promotion of the formation of new, particularly innovative, enterprises with growth potential will remain a key objective over the timeframe of the plan. Based on the development of their existing suite of interventions, the county enterprise boards will promote entrepreneurship throughout society through initiatives such as their Start Your Own Business training courses, schools enterprise programmes, awards schemes and networks, including the Women in Business networks, etc.

As part of the Government's overall policy to develop science, technology and innovation, as set out in its strategy on STI published last June, Enterprise Ireland will also continue to promote industry-relevant research and development and the commercialisation of publicly-funded research. The agency has brought together a range of supports under a commercialisation fund which seeks to support academic researchers in developing their ideas and bringing them closer to commercial realisation. Funding of €25 million was provided to over 150 projects during 2006.

By 2013, the strategy aims to double the number of companies with minimum-scale research and development activity, treble the number of enterprises engaging in significant research and development activity, increase business expenditure on research and development, increase gross expenditure on research and development and double the proportion of sales in indigenous firms of innovative products and processes. The number of new doctorates in science, engineering and technology will almost double from 543 in 2005 to 997 in 2013. The number of new doctorates in the humanities and social sciences will also double.

To compete successfully in the international marketplace Irish companies will need to develop world class management teams. The key focus areas for Enterprise Ireland will include human resource development, management development and mentoring. To encourage and develop international sales capabilities in client companies Enterprise Ireland will provide services and assistance, including market intelligence, in-market technical, legal and financial expertise, targeting potential buyers, buyer introductions and facilitating Irish companies to establish overseas.

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