Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 30: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the steps he is taking to enhance our competitiveness through supporting green technologies. [11330/12]

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

Companies are becoming increasingly aware of the financial savings and competitive advantage that arise from adopting an environmentally sustainable and resource-efficient approach to their business through green technologies and practices. There are a number of supports available to assist Irish enterprise in the development and implementation of green enterprise initiatives from a range of State agencies, including those under the aegis of my own Department. These supports are set out in the Developing a Green Enterprise guide which was published in July 2011 and is available on my Department's website.

The importance of developing the broader Green Economy sector has been identified in the Action Plan for Jobs. A range of drivers such as increased fossil fuel prices, renewable energy targets, emissions reductions targets, environmental legislation and consumer preferences, are creating significant opportunities for growth and jobs in this sector.

Ireland has a number of strengths which it can leverage to create employment and growth opportunities both for indigenous companies and for foreign direct investment, including excellent renewable energy resources, a strong R&D base, strengths as a location to test and develop new technologies, an outstanding natural environment to support green tourism and an established image as the 'Emerald Isle' which can be built upon to promote Ireland's Green offering.

Enterprise Ireland currently provides a number of supports to assist clients to develop products and services for export markets, while the IDA continues to attract investor interest in the clean-tech sector.

A key objective for Government in 2012, as part of the Action Plan for Jobs, will be to publish and implement a new Plan for the Development of the Green Economy. This Plan will set out the opportunities in the sector, the role that Government will play in working with enterprise to support the development of the Green Economy, and the structures that will be put in place to coordinate cross Government action to accelerate growth.

In addition, my Department is facilitating the development by Dublin City University of the vacant former Enterprise Ireland site in Glasnevin into an internationally-recognised 'Innovation Campus', involving a partnership of education and research institutions, enterprise and the semi-state sector with a particular focus on research-active clean-tech firms.