Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)

Ireland has built a strong reputation for quality and efficiency in a range of areas of the manufacturing sector, which employs more than 158,000 people in direct full-time jobs and the same number again in indirect employment. This sector is a key part of our economic recovery, growth and job creation strategies. Manufacturing in Ireland spans a wide range of sectors. We have particular strengths and advantages in some sectors, such as food and drink, information and communications technology hardware, medical technologies, pharmaceutical bioprocessing, engineering and industrial products, including green and cleantech products. Ireland is and can continue to be competitive in these high value manufacturing sectors, especially in terms of exports, expenditure in the economy and jobs. The manufacturing sector is increasingly dynamic, sophisticated and innovative. It invests hugely in research and development and drives productivity. It is moving further towards integrating services into its business models.

For these reasons, the action plan for jobs has a clear sectoral focus on manufacturing. It sets out a range of specific actions, to be pursued across Government in the current year, that will build on the sector's strengths and support employment growth. Challenges addressed in the action plan for jobs include issues around scale and increasing productivity, the need for specific upskilling and management development and the need to develop the sector's capacity further to engage in research, development and innovation. A key deliverable for my Department in the second quarter of this year is to articulate the Government's clear commitment to manufacturing in Ireland. The Department will elaborate on the range of initiatives and supports that are to be put in place to demonstrate this commitment. We are also committed to establishing a manufacturing development forum to assist the Government in identifying the needs of manufacturing enterprises and to progress a transformation agenda in this area.

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