Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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41. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the targeted and strategic plan she has to attract the high value data management industry here in view of the attraction of Ireland to this global industry in the areas of climate, availability of green energy, access to research and a graduate workforce and our EU membership; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49454/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Business, Enterprise, and Innovation (DBEI) works across government to ensure the operating environment for all enterprises, including in the data management industry, supports success.

Ireland’s reputation as a great place to do business serves to attract investment and encourage data management project development. The country is seen as particularly attractive to the technology and IT sector. This is, for example, because of strong incentives for research and development and collaboration, a competitive and transparent corporation tax regime, our supportive environment for the development and management of intellectual property, EU membership, and strong pool of highly skilled workers. Data industry related construction in Ireland has also generated expertise and capability amongst Irish-owned enterprises.

My Department, through the activities of IDA Ireland, ensures that enterprises, including those in the data management industry, can benefit from engagement and support.

Further, DBEI participates in a Working Group established by the Department of the Taoiseach and comprised of representatives of other relevant Departments and bodies. The Working Group is examining Ireland’s strategic national policy approach to data management projects. The Group is examining the many cross-Departmental policy issues associated with these projects, including renewable energy and climate change topics. DBEI is bringing the enterprise development perspective and related analysis to the Group to aid its discussions

Finally, my Department in conjunction with others is leading a cross-government effort to develop a national policy statement on the strategic importance of data centres as part of Ireland’s enterprise strategy, with a first draft expected later this year. This strategic policy approach takes account of wider energy policy developments. We are strongly of the view that the development of data management projects must be plan-led, and believe the policy statement will lay out a clear and balanced approach to the development of the sector, and will take account of a variety of elements including regional development, costs and benefits and the impact on Ireland’s infrastructure.