Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 191: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation if he will outline, in order, the five most important issues affecting competitiveness in the manufacturing and service sectors in each of the past five years to date in 2011; the degree to which he plans to further address these issues with a view to enhancing the prospect for economic recovery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2898/11]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The Annual Competitiveness Report, which is published each year by the National Competitiveness Council, sets out the factors which the Council believes are important for Ireland's competitiveness. These factors generally affect all areas of the economy, including the manufacturing and services sectors. The factors affecting Ireland's competitiveness have changed considerably over the last five years due to the global economic downturn and domestic economic conditions.

For example, the 2006 Annual Competitiveness Report identified issues such as loss of momentum in the export sector, productivity growth and the high costs of living as factors impacting on Ireland's competitiveness. Due to the Government's actions as part of its response to the economic downturn, our exports are now performing strongly, Ireland currently has the highest level of growth in industrial output in the Eurozone, and the cost of living has been brought under control, as evidenced by the pattern in the Consumer Price Index since 2008.

Along with my colleagues in Government, I will address the emerging challenges impacting on our competitiveness on an on-going basis. This will be done as part of the Government's overall strategy for economic recovery. In this context, the National Development Plan 2011-2014, which was published on 24th November last, provides the blueprint for a return to sustainable economic growth and sets out a range of measures which will be taken to reduce costs for businesses and improve competitiveness.