Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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184. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation in view of the statistics from Forfás on Ireland's competitiveness performance which demonstrates a less favourable ranking in terms of dealing with construction permits, getting electricity and enforcing contacts when compared with other similar sized nations, the steps he is taking to improve Ireland's performance. [29291/13]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Ireland is already rated highly internationally as one of the best countries in the world in which to do business, and we have built a strong competitive basis on which to compete on global markets. Ireland has moved up to 17^th place out of 60 countries in the IMD's World Competitiveness Yearbook 2013, having being ranked 24^th only two years ago. In the World Bank's Doing Business 2012 Report, Ireland is ranked 15^th out of 183 countries.

There are a number of key areas where Ireland tops global competitiveness rankings, including:

business impact of rules on foreign direct investment;

inflation;

FDI and technology transfer;

availability of skilled labour;

flexibility and adaptability of the labour force; and

investment incentives.

The 2013 Action Plan for Jobs includes a range of concrete measures to address issues which impact negatively on our competitiveness position. Action No. 123 specifically commits to putting in place a process to enhance Ireland's competitiveness ranking in relation to businesses getting an electricity connection, enforcing contracts and dealing with construction permits, amongst other metrics. My Department and Forfas are working with the relevant Departments and bodies to address these issues. The implementation of these actions, combined with the Government's broader objective of improving productivity, will play a key role in improving our competitiveness and realising our ambition of making Ireland the best small country in which to do business.