Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)

4 o’clock

I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 to 21, inclusive, together.

The Cabinet committee on the economy, trade and competitiveness last met yesterday and is scheduled to next meet on 14 July. Membership of the committee comprises: the Taoiseach; the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, and for Defence; the Minister for Finance; the Minister for public expenditure and infrastructure; the Minister for climate, environment and energy, and for Transport; the Minister for agriculture, food, fisheries and the marine; the Minister for enterprise, tourism and employment; the Minister for arts, media, communications, culture and sport; and the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. Other Ministers or Ministers of State are invited to participate as required. The committee oversees the implementation of programme for Government commitments related to sustainable economic and employment growth, trade, competitiveness and productivity, innovation, the national digital strategy and pensions.

Despite many external challenges, we continue to see strong economic performance, with record numbers of people in work, low levels of unemployment and a return to real wage growth. While the current international trade environment has brought uncertainty, our economy has weathered several challenges in recent years and continues to demonstrate its resilience and ability to adapt to changing global circumstances. We will continue to advance an economic model founded on a well-established and successful pro-enterprise policy framework, a stable and sustainable regulatory and tax environment, with sound management of the public finances, and significant investment in the infrastructure, energy and skills required to ensure our future competitiveness and productivity. For example, in the context of the development of the Government’s new competitiveness and productivity action plan, the committee considers the related challenges of energy costs and infrastructure, research and development, regulatory reform and trade diversification. As with all policy areas, issues relating to the economy are regularly discussed at full Cabinet meetings, where all formal decisions are made.

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