Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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282. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation further to Parliamentary Question No. 332 of 10 November 2016, and the admission that growth potential in Enterprise 2025 was informed by macroeconomic forecasts at that time, if she will review Enterprise 2025 and employment and export forecasts in view of the fact that latest macroeconomic forecasts for the short medium term have changed since the UK referendum result; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35668/16]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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As a small open economy, Ireland has in the past, and will continue to operate in an environment of continuous and fast-paced change globally. In today’s interconnected world, Ireland’s enterprise policies aim to build resilience into our economy – by strengthening the capabilities of our enterprises, diversifying export markets and source markets for investment and by maintaining our focus on Ireland’s relative competitiveness. Enterprise 2025, our agreed national enterprise policy, was developed in the context of ongoing global uncertainties.

It is accepted that the UK referendum result has created a high degree of uncertainty and, in that context, it can be expected that many, fluctuating macro-economic, trade and employment forecasts will be produced between now and the UK leaving the European Union.

Enterprise 2025 provides a robust framework that remains valid and sets out an ambitious policy approach. That ambition must be maintained despite any turbulence in international developments. If anything, the result of the UK referendum has placed an increased emphasis on re-doubling our efforts. At the same time, I know that the UK referendum result requires specific policy responses in parallel with the implementation of Enterprise 2025. My Department and others across government are taking action. The enterprise development agencies are working closely with companies to provide the support and advice needed. As part of Budget 2017 I secured additional resources for the Department and its agencies, with up to 50 additional staff to be provided to secure our ambitious indigenous exports, inward investment and jobs growth targets. My focus remains on achieving the Government’s ambition of having an extra 200,000 at work by 2020. Details of action taken to date were provided in my earlier reply to a related question (REF 34327/16, question number 332 of November 10th 2016).

In light of the foregoing, and notwithstanding the challenge facing us, I do not anticipate any revision to Enterprise 2025, or its ambition, at this time.