Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The whole purpose of the group which will be working on this is to monitor the implementation of these recommendations with the various Departments and agencies, and that this is in the process of being set up. The net job creation in high-tech firms of the order of 117,000 jobs to which the report refers is to happen between now and 2020. The report believes the implementation of the recommendations, supported by a favourable economic context, has the potential to contribute that sort of number of jobs, and this excludes the creation of additional jobs through the multiplier effect. It is not a forecast or a prediction but it is an indication of what the report believes is possible and the potential of what we are talking about in terms of seeking to implement the report.

With regard to the venture capital fund, innovation fund and so on, I have stated to the House on previous occasions that work is ongoing by the National Treasury Management Agency on that issue. While there has not been a great background on which to work on the setting up of new venture capital funds given the present climate, much work is ongoing in that regard and will continue.

The bankruptcy issues to which the Deputy referred will be for the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to progress.

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