Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

Will the Taoiseach confirm how much has been committed or promised from private venture sources in respect of moneys for innovation? The task force on innovation was set up with a six-month remit, which is due to expire at the end of January. If we are to receive a report, it must be produced by the end of the month or else the lifetime of the committee must be extended. Which is the case?

There is no disagreement among Members regarding the possibilities and potential for job creation arising from innovation. First, there has been much discussion of what can be done in the area of energy, including wind, wave power, tidal power, pump storage, natural gas and so on. There is no reason that this State should not be a world leader in some of these niche areas of renewable energy. Will the task force examine that potential?

Second, we have all the ingredients to be a world leader in the area of biotechnology, whether arising from the clusters of medical companies in operation throughout the State or through the availability of resources and research from our universities and other third level institutions, including, for example, the Marine Institute. All these elements provide us with absolute potential in terms of world leadership in the biotechnology area.

Third, all the major multinational information technology companies already have a presence here, a sector in which developments are taking place at blinding speed. These are three areas where we can clearly see the potential for innovation, as exemplified on a smaller scale by the young scientists last week. All of that potential is there to be harnessed in the next 20 years.

Will the task force look at the bigger picture and the longer view where there is clearly potential for substantial job creation and job sustainability arising from innovation? That will clearly require a longer-term remit for the task force than its initial six-month allocation. Irrespective of political positions, this is something that will stand to us, but it will require encouragement and clarity of objective from Government. Will the Taoiseach ensure, having chaired its first meeting, that the task force on innovation and its four sub-committees will focus on these clear areas of massive potential for the State?

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