Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 21 Apr 1998

Vol. 489 No. 6

Written Answers. - Enterprise Ireland.

Nora Owen

Question:

173 Mrs. Owen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if, in relation to the establishment of Enterprise Ireland, she intends to maintain the highly successful science technology and innovation management system as a single unit to exploit the research expertise in the country. [9474/98]

Nora Owen

Question:

175 Mrs. Owen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will ensure access for both indigenous research industry as well as the overseas industry, within the Enterprise Ireland framework outlined in the 23 March 1998 paper, Client Base for Enterprise Ireland and Services to be Provided, in view of the high technology strategy by the IDA to get overseas investors to establish research centres here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9476/98]

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Miss Harney)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 173 and 175 together.

A key aim in establishing the new agency is to ensure that a stronger focus is placed on addressing the developmental needs of firms. In that context, I am committed to ensuring that the new agency has a strong core of technological expertise capable of addressing those needs.

The new agency will operate in conjunction with the existing agencies, Forfás and IDA Ireland, established under the Industrial Development Act, 1993. Within this framework, appropriate measures will be put in place to ensure that the developmental needs of Irish and foreign owned firms operating in Ireland are addressed as efficiently and effectively as possible.

As the Deputy will be aware, the activities of the industrial development agencies are only one element of the national, science technology and innovation system. Other critical elements include State research institutes, the universities and institutes of technology and private sector firms providing technology consultancy services.

The co-ordination mechanisms which have been put in place via the Office of Science and Technology, Forfás and the Irish Council for Science, Technology and Innovation are designed to ensure that we continue to strengthen our technological base, both to promote the development of indigenous industry and to help increase the level of R&D activity in foreign owned firms located here.

I would assure the Deputy that there is nothing in my plans for the new agency which would undermine what is now seen as a very successful system for exploiting the expertise resident in the Irish science, technology and innovation system.