Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Launched in December 2022, the White Paper on Enterprise sets out the Government’s approach to enterprise policy for the period to 2030. The White Paper sets out Ireland`s enterprise strategy for the medium- to long-term, which will work to enable Irish-based enterprise to succeed through competitive advantage founded on sustainability, innovation and productivity, delivering rewarding jobs and livelihoods.

In May of last year, my Department published the first in a series of consecutive two-year Implementation Plans of cross-government activity to implement the policy direction set out in the White Paper. This first implementation plan covers the period 2023-24, identifying a portfolio of 40 key initiatives across the White Paper’s seven policy priorities, divided into 93 underlying activities and deliverables. The majority of these initiatives are led by my Department and the enterprise agencies, with further activities under the remit of other Departments across Government.

Update reports on the progress on the Implementation Plan are developed every six months, and implementation is overseen by the Cabinet Committee on the Economy and Investment. The first Update Report was developed during Q3 2023, containing details of the progress made during the first six months of 2023. Key actions advanced include progress made towards the National Strategy for Offshore Wind, the commencement of our four new European Digital Innovation Hubs, as well as the launch of a pilot LEO framework to address previous gaps in support for Irish enterprise with export potential.

The Update Report also contains details on progress made against the 15 key targets set out in the White Paper on Enterprise, where data are available. These updated targets indicate progress made across the enterprise sector, including on the regionalisation of enterprise and investment, growth in national and regional employment rates, an increase in the number of large Irish exporting companies, an increase in the number of high-potential start-ups created, as well as growth in the productivity rates of domestic enterprise.

The second update report, covering the second half of 2023, is currently being developed by officials in my Department, in keeping with its schedule of being developed in Q1 2024.