Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)

Job creation is at the top of the Government's agenda. Since we came into office, this Government has been working to create the improved economic conditions which will support the maintenance of existing jobs and the creation of new ones. Our objective is to put the country back on the road to economic recovery and full employment.

It is an unfortunate reality that companies, for a wide range of reasons, get into difficulty. Early intervention is critical and that intervention must, where possible, occur before the situation is irretrievable. For this reason the enterprise agencies operate an early warning system which triggers the full capacity of the agency concerned to intervene with the company and deal with whatever situation is emerging. I am satisfied this system works well but I will continue to keep it under review to best serve the companies concerned.

Clearly, prevention is better than cure and this is why the enterprise agencies work closely with their client companies in order that strategic interventions can be taken that avoid the company getting into difficulty in the first instance. These interventions help clients make the strategic and operational changes that will retain their competitive position in a rapidly changing global environment. Depending on the company's need, changes can include skills uplift, technology uplift, process improvements such as lean manufacturing, energy efficiency and better logistical management, supports for in-house research and innovation activity, management development such as the leadership for growth programme, assisting a company entering new or emerging geographical markets, support for clients' strategic finance capabilities, access to mentors and so on.

The enterprise agencies work closely with other Departments and partner development agencies to respond to specific incidences where larger companies suffer a significant job losses or where a significant number of jobs are at risk. The objective in these circumstances is to identify all opportunities to maximise the number of jobs maintained, for example, through support for spin-out start-ups, management buy-outs or commercial partnering. Task forces comprising relevant personnel from the Departments and agencies and other key stakeholders are used in these cases.

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Many small businesses are facing particularly difficult trading conditions. A number of initiatives have been taken to help them. The low rate of PRSI has been halved. The county enterprise boards have also recently introduced a financial health check, reporting and benchmarking tool, in association with Enterprise Ireland lean manufacturing, to help small business assess their difficulties.

The Government has intervened to help businesses who are struggling to get credit. The Government has imposed lending targets on the two domestic pillar banks for 2012 and 2013. Businesses having difficulty with credit refusals can use the services of the Credit Review Office which will carry out an independent and impartial review of a bank's decision to refuse or reduce credit.

The economy is undergoing a difficult transformation. Some sectors grew to a scale that was unsustainable. Part of the challenge for Government is to help people move into new sectors of opportunity. In the context of the action plan for jobs, we are looking at other ways in which business can be assisted in overcoming difficulties.

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