Avril Doyle
Question:13 Mrs. Doyle asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the plans, if any, he has to establish a joint venture company with Forbairt and An Bord Tráchtála to achieve targeted growth in import substitution.
Written Answers. - Import Substitution.
I take it that the Deputy is referring to a recommendation of the recently published report of the small business task force which calls for the establishment of a limited company, to be jointly owned by Forbairt and ABT, and which would have the job of developing market opportunities on the home market for small business in particular. This is one of a wide range of recommendations contained in the report which is currently under active consideration in my Department. In this connection, the Deputy may be aware that I recently announced the setting up of a new services and small business section in my Department which, inter alia, will have the task of co-ordinating the Government's response to the task force's report including the import substitution issue. The objective will be to ensure that these matters are dealt with as expeditiously as possible.