Vol. 500 No. 4
120 Mr. Gormley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the measures, if any, she proposes to encourage greater public investment into research and development in order to ensure world class capability in nationally important technologies and stimulate industry to higher technological innovation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4284/99]
It is now accepted internationally that science and technology is playing an increasingly central role in national economic development. Recent industrial development experiences clearly show, that Ireland simply cannot compete internationally on the basis of low costs and low wages. Our international competitiveness in a global market therefore must be based on our ability, to provide high technology enterprises with a skilled workforce and an environment conducive to world class technological innovation.
This means that as a nation we must stimulate public and private sector investment in research and development. As a small country, the public sector obviously cannot invest without limit in our research capacity. I therefore intend to target for special treatment those areas likely to have the most beneficial impact on our economy and I want to ensure Ireland can compete in these areas at a world class level. It was against this background that last March, I asked the Irish Council for Science, Technology and Innovation, ICSTI, to undertake Ireland's first ever Technology Foresight study. ICSTI's initiative, which involved a high degree of consultation with experts and other interested parties, is seeking to identify the research and technology areas regarded as the key to Ireland's long-term development. The Council's report is also expected to put forward recommendations to assist Government devise a long-term strategy to ensure Ireland is well placed to respond to the opportunities and challenges of our technological future. I expect to receive this Technology Foresight report from ICSTI during the month of March.
