Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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55. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the steps being taken to deal with competitiveness issues as identified by the National Competitiveness Council in its report Ireland’s Competitiveness Challenge 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6012/18]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Competitiveness is a cross government agenda. It requires a focus on, inter alia, infrastructure, research, technology, innovation, education and skills as well as our fiscal regime.  

My Department supports the work of the National Competitiveness Council (NCC) in the identification and analysis of key challenges that affect our competitiveness.

Recent global developments have placed a spotlight on the importance of competitiveness. These developments relate not only to Brexit, but also to international tax, policy changes under the US administration and the unrelenting pace of technological change.

There are now over 2.2 million people at work and our unemployment rate is down to 6.1%. Total employment in IDA and EI supported companies has exceeded 400,000 with jobs being created throughout the country.

Ireland’s improving competitiveness performance over the period 2011-2017 has been central to our strong employment growth. In 2017, Ireland improved one place and is now ranked 6th out of 63 economies in the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook.

However, we cannot be complacent. We continue to face challenges. The productivity performance of many of our Irish owned companies is weak.  These companies are facing a very different landscape as they deal with currency volatilities and the need to reduce exposure to the UK market in light of Brexit.

My officials are finalising the review of Enterprise 2025. This will place an increased emphasis on developing our Irish owned enterprises and embedding resilience. We are already placing a spotlight on innovation and on skills. The agencies continue to support firms with initiatives in Lean, RD and I, mentoring and training – initiatives that strengthen firm competitiveness.  Enterprise Ireland supports Irish companies to deepen their trading links with the UK and to diversify their export markets. Through IDA, we continue to attract new investments that deliver economic impact for Ireland.

My officials have worked closely with the Department of Housing in shaping the National Planning Framework (NPF). The alignment of the National Development Plan to the NPF is key to unlocking the potential of the regions and to strengthening the attractiveness of places throughout Ireland – for people to live and work in, and for business to invest in.

My officials and the National Competitiveness Council will continue to focus on the competitiveness agenda. I intend to work closely with my Ministerial colleagues to develop and implement actions to enhance national competitiveness.