Michael Noonan (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 297: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation if he will publish an action plan for implementing the recommendations of the National Competitive Council and the Competition Authority in order to improve cost competitiveness here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33910/10]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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A Renewed Programme for Government committed the Government to act on recommendations contained in Competition Authority reports within nine months of their publication.

Following the above commitments given by the Government, my Department drew up an initial prioritised list of 21 recommendations, based on their impact on competitiveness. These 21 recommendations related, directly or indirectly, to five Government Departments. The Government has reviewed the progress made by these Government Departments in responding to the 21 recommendations and a Government Statement to this effect issued in April 2010. I intend to bring to Government twice-yearly updates on the implementation of these and any further recommendations made by the Competition Authority.

Since the October 2009 commitment contained in A Renewed Programme for Government, the Competition Authority has issued one report - in two parts - containing two recommendations. The report relates to GP services and of the two recommendations one has already been implemented with the remaining one currently being progressed.

In relation to the National Competitiveness Council, the Annual Competitiveness report 2010, published by the NCC in July this year, acknowledged that since January 2008, Ireland has regained some of the competitiveness it had lost at the start of the global economic downturn. The improvement in competitiveness is closely linked to the policies the Government has pursued to restore stability to the economy.

The NCC recommendations cover a range of shorter and longer term priorities, and require implementation by a range of Government Departments and agencies. The Government is continuing to drive the competitiveness agenda across the economy, in particular through the work of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Renewal, with a view to progressing those recommendations in order to promote a business environment that is conducive to creating jobs and securing future export-led growth for our enterprise economy.