Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 603: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps he has taken and will take to implement the innovation taskforces key recommendation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14748/10]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Since I became Minister for Foreign Affairs, I have set as a key priority for my Department the promotion of our economic interests abroad. I have charged the Promoting Ireland Abroad Division of the Department, as well as our Missions abroad, to work closely with the relevant Government Departments and economic State Agencies to assist trade, investment and tourism efforts and to convey positive messages about our economic policies and performance, in order to enhance our image overseas as an economic partner.

Since the launch of the Government's Smart Economy Framework in December 2008, my Department has placed a special emphasis on raising awareness of Ireland as a centre of excellence for science, technology and innovation. The issue is regularly raised on the occasion of inward and outward high level visits, during bilateral consultations and exchanges and in the context of promotional work by my Department.

As part of its promotional work, my Department has also devoted considerable energy over the last 18 months to conveying positive messages to international media and opinion formers about our economic performance. At my direction, a Media Unit was established for this purpose within the Department's Promoting Ireland Abroad Division last year. The Unit works closely with our Missions abroad to proactively counter negative and inaccurate reporting of our economic situation, and to highlight Ireland's strengths as an economic partner, including in the field of innovation.

My Department also works closely with the economic State Agencies to ensure that a consistent message about Ireland's strengths and advantages is communicated to the international business community. Ireland's growing reputation for excellence in innovation is at the heart of these efforts. This year, in order to maximise the value of St. Patrick's Day as an opportunity to promote our economic interests abroad, a coherent set of messages was developed in close consultation with the relevant Government Departments and State Agencies. These were used by all Ministers travelling abroad for St. Patrick's Day and by our Ambassadors in other countries. Central to these messages was the development of Ireland as a global hub for innovation as a key part of the Government's strategy for economic recovery.

In February I launched the Global Irish Network, a project first proposed at the Global Irish Economic Forum in September, as a means of continuing and maintaining the valuable work that was begun at Farmleigh. Members are located all over the world, with significant numbers drawn from Europe, North America and Asia. There are also members in the Middle East, Australia, and Latin America. While our Embassies and State Agencies have actively maintained local business and community networks in individual countries and regions, the Global Irish Network will, for the first time, integrate the most influential Irish connected individuals into one global group and act as an additional resource for the Government and State Agencies in promoting Ireland's economic, cultural and tourism messages in key markets.

The report of the Taskforce on Innovation provides a detailed and constructive examination of where Ireland currently stands in relation to innovation and sets out a series of recommendations aimed at achieving a step-change in Ireland's innovation performance. My Department will continue to work closely with the relevant Government Departments and State Agencies to promote Ireland's achievements and potential in innovation and to ensure that optimal use is made of Ireland's network of Missions abroad to promote and advance Ireland's interests in this crucial area.