Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)

My Department and its agencies maintain an early warning monitor on issues that adversely affect sectors of the economy. Through the agencies, we ensure we are positioned to meet the rising tides either through research and development investment or by anticipating change. Ireland's offering, which used to be plentiful cheap labour and tax incentives, has become more sophisticated. We have developed clusters of skills around innovation and research and development but our challenge is to improve continually in basic areas like cost competitiveness and utilities.

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