Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 52: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation the extent if any to which he has had discussions with the EU Commissioner, Michel Barnier, with a view to availing of the benefits of the relaunch of the Single Market; the degree to which technology and innovation is likely to play a role in such plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45604/10]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I met Commissioner Barnier in Dublin on 5 November last. The Commissioner was in Dublin to fulfil a number of engagements, including a meeting with my Department to discuss a number of initiatives designed to make the Single Market work more effectively. These include the Services Directive, the Single Market Act (SMA) and the operation of the SOLVIT Network.

The transposition of the Services Directive was completed on 23rd November last. The details are set out in the answer to Question 45604/10. The transposition of the Directive makes it easier for businesses and consumers to buy services in the Single Market. Forfás projects that the real value of Irish services exports could rise by between €13 billion and €16 billion annually as a result of improved services trade under the Directive, as transposed. Jobs in services could rise by 5,300 and foreign direct investment in services could increase by up to 20pc.

The SMA, which was published on 27th October last, is the Commission's response to the May 2010 Monti Report, which was prepared by (former) Commissioner Mario Monti at the request of the President of the European Commission, Mr Barosso, to review progress to date in the creation of the Single Market and to identify what needed to be done to complete it. It includes a number of recommendations on the funding of innovation and long-term investment.

The SMA has been published for public consultation after which (in early 2011) the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament will be asked to formally agree to it. The Commission is anxious that a public debate on the SMA takes place at national level as well as at EU level. In that regard, my Department will be giving a presentation on the SMA to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Affairs on 14th December next. The views of stakeholders, including the social partners, on the Act have also been sought.

SOLVIT is an informal problem-solving network launched by the European Commission in 2002. It was created to solve cross-border problems that EU citizens or businesses are experiencing with the public administrations of other EU Member States. Those problems must be associated with a denial of their Single Market rights due to single market law not being applied correctly. SOLVIT aims to solve problems raised by citizens or businesses within 10 weeks.

In tandem with the renewal of the Single Market through the SMA, the Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, which was published in March 2010, identifies the Single Market as one of three main instruments to deliver its vision of a knowledge-based, green and inclusive EU economy (together with budgetary means and external economic policy). The strategy focuses on economic growth, sustainable development and emissions reduction and on the need to tackle societal challenges such as healthy ageing, energy security, climate change and environmental protection.

Innovation has moved up the political agenda and the European Commission is seizing on this opportunity to try and turn long-mulled ideas into reality. In this context the Innovation Union flagship initiative, launched in October 2010, within the EU 2020 Strategy, is relevant. Within the Innovation Union flagship, the idea of European Innovation Partnerships (EIPs) is being developed. EIPs are intended to take existing national and EU funded research efforts and channel them in a concerted way into large partnerships. Those (partly EU funded) national research efforts would be resourced through the usual sources, including the Framework Programmes. Ireland performs well in attracting research and innovation funding from the current FP7 and is active in influencing the direction FP8 will take, when it is launched in 2014.

Our national innovation initiatives are mirroring those at the EU level. For example, since the publication of the Innovation Task Force's Report in March 2010, the Innovation Task Force Implementation Group has been progressing the Task Force's recommendations. It is anticipated that arising out of the recommendations a pilot project will be established in line with the EIP, probably in the healthy ageing area.