Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Stability, jobs and growth are the central themes of the Irish Presidency of the European Union. The issue of employment creation is one that is challenging all member states across the Union. During our Presidency we have made progress in a number of areas that can create the right environment for growth and employment. For example, agreement has been reached on the youth guarantee which promises to provide young people with a good quality offer of employment, continued education, an apprenticeship or a traineeship within four months of becoming unemployed. The European Globalisation Fund co-finances education and training support programmes for redundant workers. The Irish Presidency will continue to progress the draft regulation governing a new funding round for the period 2014 to 2020. Work is also continuing to obtain agreement on the European Union's new €70 billion research programme, Horizon 2020, including the €6.6 billion for key enabling technologies programmes and the proposed €2 billion programme for competitiveness and SMEs, COSME. I will be looking for every opportunity to further the interests of Irish and other SMEs and ensure they can extract the greatest possible benefit from the funding available under these programmes, particularly with regard to expanding the scope for participation in research and innovation activity. Deputies will also be aware that Innovation Fund Ireland and the microfinance fund are part of the measures within the Action Plan for Jobs and these are helping Irish companies to access finance in the current difficult environment.

Together with Government colleagues, I am also working to create a genuine digital single market by building confidence in cross-border transactions and services, including reform of data protection measures and providing a pan-European framework for e-signatures. I will continue to fully engage in the development of the European Union's common commercial policies, which I believe provides a strong stimulus for growth and job creation. Completing the trade agreement with Canada and launching the US negotiations would be an important step in boosting exports. Next week I will host an informal meeting of EU competitiveness and research Ministers in Dublin, the focus of which will be measures to increase employment in the SME sector, including improving access to finance. The recent agreement on the draft accounting directive will see a reduction of the administrative burden on firms.

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