Eoghan Murphy (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 210: To ask the Minister for Jobs; Enterprise and Innovation his position regarding recommendation 9.5 of the report of the innovation task force on introducing an entrepreneurial tax credit. [29723/11]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 211: To ask the Minister for Jobs; Enterprise and Innovation his position regarding recommendation 9.6 of the report of the innovation task force on introducing founder share options which are eligible only for CGT treatment. [29724/11]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 210 and 211 together.

As specified in the report of the Innovation Task Force, the Minister for Finance is the lead actor for follow up on these recommendations, as with all recommendations regarding tax.

My Department works closely with the Department of Finance, the Revenue Commissioners, Forfás, IDA, Enterprise Ireland and industry representative organisations in developing tax policy proposals to support enterprise, promote the creation of jobs and to encourage and support innovation. The following principles underpin the elaboration of tax proposals brought forward from the perspective of my Department and its agencies: - Entrepreneurs should have the incentive to set-up new businesses; - Early stage risky yet high potential start-up companies should be able to attract sufficient risk capital; - The tax system should encourage job creation by companies; and - Individuals should have a financial incentive to enter and stay within the workforce. As usual, my Department engages annually in discussions in the Tax Strategy Group on the optimal tax package for the following year's budget, and this is being undertaken for the 2012 Budget.

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 212: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his position regarding key recommendation 9.8 of the report of the innovation task force on launching a marketing campaign to promote Ireland as a start-up hub for innovation and export-oriented companies. [29725/11]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Recommendation 9.8 of the report of the Innovation task Force proposed the launch of a marketing campaign, initially on a pilot basis, to promote Ireland as an excellent location for starting innovative export-oriented companies.

I will shortly be making an announcement about an initiative to attract overseas entrepreneurs to come to Ireland to set up a new company here or develop an innovative idea or service.

I believe that the contribution of foreign entrepreneurs to the Irish economic recovery effort is a resource with considerable potential. Entrepreneurs, not currently living in Ireland, can be encouraged to bring their ideas and entrepreneurial drive to Ireland, and establish an enterprise here. The entrepreneurs may be of the Irish diaspora who are returning to Ireland, non-Irish who have been resident here and subsequently returned home, or indeed people with no previous connection to Ireland. In time, these companies have the potential to develop to become a source of wealth and job creation for this economy.

This initiative will be one more step in orienting Ireland as a start-up hub for innovation and export-oriented companies.