asked the Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism whether he will be adopting the recommendations of the report of the Sectoral Development Committee on Marketing that the role of CTT should be strengthened to bolster our marketing performance especially in view of the importance of exports to the economy.
Written Answers. - Irish Firms' Marketing Performance.
562.
The basic findings of the Sectoral Development Committee's report are that there are serious weaknesses in the marketing performance of Irish firms. This has already been recognised in the White Paper on Industrial Policy which is stressing the urgent need for a market led approach by Irish industry and announcing new marketing initiatives to be undertaken by CTT underlining the importance of that organisation's role.
The Sectoral Development Committee's recommendations form a practical package of measures which can help to improve the marketing performance of Irish industry. I see these for the main part as complementing, and building on, the philosophy and the various initiatives in the White Paper. Accordingly I welcome the latest SDC report and the broad thrust and direction of its findings. I am examining the report's many recommendations with a view to identifying appropriate action.