Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Since commencing my role as Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, I have, together with my Ministers of State and officials in the Department, devoted considerable time and efforts to driving our mission which is centred on the promotion of policies and initiatives to create an enterprising, entrepreneurial, innovative and appropriately regulated, competitive economy in support of employment and job creation. In this regard, my main focus has been on: Ø growing employment and foreign earnings through enterprise and trade, Ø building the smart economy through investments in the Strategy for

Science Technology and Innovation, Ø better regulation of markets and enhanced consumer welfare, and Ø fostering good industrial relations, employment rights and occupational

health and safety.

My Department and I, together with our colleagues in our Agencies, continue to work diligently at ensuring that the policies we are pursuing remain attuned to the needs of our stakeholders, and that we implement those policies effectively in support of our overall mission.

Despite the global economic recession, the actions we have taken are bearing fruit insofar as our improving competitiveness, increasing exports, and continuing job announcements attest, notwithstanding the continuing challenging global economic climate. On the exports front alone – a vital source of wealth and job creation for a small open economy like Ireland – the 11% increase in our trade surplus in the first nine months of last year compared to the same period in 2009 shows that our strategy is working.

I can assure the Deputy that I and my team at the Department, working closely with our colleagues in our Agencies, will continue to commit every effort to drive our mission in the period ahead.