Mary Harney
Question:20 Miss Harney asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the plans, if any, he has to implement the measures in the Forfás report which comes within his responsibility. [13651/96]
Written Answers. - Forfás Report Recommendations.
The Forfás report Shaping Our Future presents a wide-ranging examination of long-term strategy at a time when the Irish economy is progressing well on all fronts. As a framework document, it sets out what we as society can achieve in terms of economic and social development over the next 15 years if we adopt the right policies.
The report is a valuable contribution to policy development in a wide range of areas which span several Government Departments — including the Department of Enterprise and Employment. Shaping Our Future gives a structure for consideration of long-term objectives and the impact of decisions made in relation to the choices facing Government in the short to mediumterm.
Shaping Our Future catalogues where we are and sets out principles to guide the development of policy in important areas such as enhancing competitiveness, realising the potential of the services sector, research and development and the information society.
In adopting any new policies or altering existing ones it would be my intention to use the Forfás report as a key input and indicator. We will also be using their analysis in framing my Department's policy papers on human resources, enterprise policy and the services sector.