Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 118: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, further to Parliamentary Question No. 147 of 2 December 2008, the Departments which have responded to the Secretary General and the Departments which remain to furnish a full response; the result of the examination of the enterprise agenda recommendations in the report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7887/09]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The report of the Services Strategy Group, "Catching the Wave: A Services Strategy for Ireland", published in September 2008, contains a range of recommendations across a wide area that concerns the policies and activities of a number of Government Departments and Agencies. All the relevant bodies have been contacted for their views on the pertinent recommendations in the report.

Officials of my Department are currently engaged in the process of analysing responses, both from divisions within my own Department and from other relevant Departments and Agencies. Some of the issues raised by these recommendations are complex and have policy implications for the Departments involved. For this reason it is important that we comprehensively analyse the issues raised and identify the most appropriate measures to address the difficulties involved. These issues are obviously compounded by the straitened economic circumstances and the severe constraints on public expenditure. Upon completion of this process I will be in a position to formulate a comprehensive approach to the implementation of the report.

Moreover a number of actions are already taking place. In November 2008 I launched Enterprise Ireland's "Strategy for Internationally Traded Services", which could, if fully realised, lead to a doubling of export sales by 2015. The Agency also initiated a new "Going Global Fund" which is aimed at locally traded companies that have successfully established businesses in Ireland and wish to explore opportunities to sell abroad. These plans and supports will give ambitious services firms, particularly those that have not looked beyond the Irish market yet, the confidence to offer their quality services in global markets, generating wealth and prosperity for the economy back home.

The Government has recently given a commitment to publishing a whole-of-Government response to recommendations contained within the reports of the Competition Authority. This, in conjunction with the merging of the Competition Authority and the National Consumer Agency, should yield dividends for the economy as a whole, where both the individual and enterprises as consumers will benefit from increasing competition and a reduction in sheltered sectors of the economy.

In January of this year, my colleague Minister Eamon Ryan in the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources announced details of a new scheme to deliver universal broadband across Ireland by September 2010. That department is also actively engaging with key stakeholders in the implementation and means of delivery of Next Generation Broadband.

I am confident that following due consideration, we can put the right structures in place to ensure the successful implementation of the recommendations of the Services Strategy Group. This will enable Irish service companies to exploit new and exciting opportunities, such as eLearning, business and financial services, professional and consultancy services and others. Given a relatively solid foundation to begin with, Ireland can be an ideal location for services to develop and prosper.