Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 178: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress his Department has made in implementing the Lisbon Agenda; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2594/07]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The European Commission published its Annual Progress Report for 2006 on implementation of the renewed Lisbon Strategy for growth and jobs on 12 December 2006. The overall assessment of Ireland's performance is that we are making very good progress in the implementation of our National Reform Programme (NRP), including the priority areas arising from the 2006 Spring European Council. The underpinning role of the social partnership process and the range of commitments agreed under Towards 2016 is also acknowledged.

The Commission again places Ireland in the first tier of Member States with the strongest record and progress in pursuit of the Lisbon goals. Ireland ranks amongst a handful of countries which has received no specific recommendations.

As far as my own Department is concerned, in terms of rankings, Ireland scores very highly in terms of best enterprise environment due to the ease of starting a business, good access to capital and relatively low levels of administrative "red tape".

Furthermore, the Commission identified key strengths of our National Reform Programme as:

Recently adopted Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy 2007-2013 and the substantial increase of public investment in R&D;

Recognition of the need to prioritise public investment in infrastructure and other growth-promoting expenditure;

Measures to address early school leaving and enhance skills, such as the commitment to develop a long-term national skills strategy.

In addition to the various measures outlined in the NRP progress report, submitted in October 2006, many of the initiatives and changes outlined in Budget 2007 are entirely consistent with our overall strategy to stimulate and sustain economic growth and employment. The recently published National Development Plan 2007-2013 further demonstrates a level of investment and a range of measures across the policy spectrum which reinforce this strategy. Building on these developments, we would expect to record strong progress in continuing to meet the Lisbon objectives.

The Commission's Annual Progress Report will now form a key input to the Spring European Council in March 2007.