Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 103: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which he has identified issues affecting national economic competitiveness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14950/11]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Improving Ireland's competitiveness is essential in order to achieve a return to sustainable economic growth. Improved competitiveness will help businesses to retain existing jobs, create new ones, increase exports and contribute to economic recovery.

The National Competitiveness Council (NCC) monitors and analyses costs and other competitiveness issues in the Irish economy through its suite of reports and offers recommendations for policy actions required to enhance Ireland's competitive position. The Council produces an annual Competitiveness Challenge report which identifies priority competitiveness challenges for Ireland. The issues identified by the NCC in its 2010 Competitiveness Challenge were:

· tackling unemployment;

· driving productivity growth;

· sustaining and deepening our competitive advantage in key sectors;

· broadening our export base;

· delivering further improvements in cost competitiveness;

· building a stronger physical and knowledge infrastructure base;

· restoring macroeconomic stability; and

· delivering on public sector reform and implementation.

These issues are consistent with the Government's objectives, as set out in the Programme for Government.

The Government has already made progress in tackling the competitiveness of the economy through the restructuring of the banking system, the introduction of a Jobs Initiative and in its commitment to public sector reform. Further measures to improve the competitiveness of the economy will be explored and implemented by the Government over the coming months.