Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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323. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the progress made regarding action 126 in the Action Plan for Jobs to compare consumer price levels and consumer price inflation here; if the terms of reference for the proposed report have been agreed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25278/13]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Action 126 of the Action Plan for Jobs 2013 requires that Forfás “Compare consumer price levels and consumer price inflation in Ireland with prices in our key competitors; identify the primary drivers of price and inflation differentials and assess the impacts of cost of living in Ireland on labour costs and other business costs.” The Terms of Reference for this work were to be developed in Quarter 2.

Increases in the Consumer Price level represent a significant indirect cost for business as it puts upward pressure on wage expectations, thus adding to the cost base for enterprise and ultimately impacting on our international competitiveness. The recently published Forfas report “Costs of Doing Business in Ireland 2012” found that Irish consumer prices as measured by the Consumer Price Index and the Harmonised Index for Consumer prices were 12% above the euro area average in 2011. The forthcoming Forfas study will go further, and identify the primary drivers of price and inflation differentials. I can confirm that the Terms of Reference for the Forfas study have been agreed. The report is due for completion by the end of the year.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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324. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the progress made regarding action 175 in the Action Plan for Jobs to prepare a policy statement on entrepreneurship, including youth entrepreneurship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25279/13]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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The Action Plan for Jobs 2013 has a specific section on driving entrepreneurship and start-up companies and includes a commitment to publish a National Entrepreneurship Policy Statement in Quarter 4 of 2013. To deliver on this commitment, a comprehensive work programme is being undertaken, to include research and consultation with entrepreneurs, interested parties and relevant stakeholders. As part of an assessment of the current environment for entrepreneurship activity, I launched a public consultation process on 17 May, 2013. The purpose of this consultation process is to invite interested parties to submit written views/observations/suggestions to support the Department’s work on establishing how conducive the overall environment in Ireland is for entrepreneurship, and identifying gaps, opportunities, weaknesses and untapped potential.

In addition to the launch of the public consultation on Entrepreneurship Policy, I also recently announced the establishment of a small Entrepreneurship Advisory Forum to advise and support my Department and to influence policy in the area of entrepreneurship. Entrepreneur and investor Sean O’ Sullivan has agreed to chair this Forum.

The main deliverables of the project are to outline key recommendations for immediate action by Government that can be taken in order to: set out objectives, targets and responsibilities for promoting the emergence of new innovative entrepreneurs and facilitating new business start-ups; complement existing initiatives, and ensure that the operating environment is more coherent, responsive and conducive to entrepreneurship; improve the support environment for entrepreneurs; address gaps, bottlenecks or obstacles to entrepreneurship; and improve the perception of entrepreneurship as an attractive career option.