Vol. 514 No. 1
98 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she has satisfied herself that the current and future climate for home and international investment in job creation in this country is sufficient to meet the competitive challenge of other jurisdictions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3512/00]
Over the past decade, consistent industrial and economic policies have helped shape and sustain a supportive and encouraging environment for enterprise. Over time, these policies have been refined both to reflect changes taking place in our economy and to enable enterprise respond to regional and global competition. Their success in helping business create jobs is obvious. For example, the latest quarterly national household survey indicates an increase of 96,600 in the numbers at work between the second quarter of 1999 and the corresponding quarter in 1998. This achievement has been made against increasing competition from globalisation, newly industrialising counties, and increasing competitiveness in our main competitors – all challenges from other economies with which we have successfully coped.
Recognising the importance of Ireland's international competitiveness, the Government established the National Competitiveness Council in 1997. The council monitors the country's international competitive position and in its annual reports makes recommendations towards improving our relative performance. These reports have made a significant contribution towards informing Government action aimed at ensuring a competitive economy in both the short and longer term.
Key objectives of the national development plan are to upgrade economic infrastructure, significantly improve our human resource and skills base thus improving Ireland's international competitive standing. Together with investments in research and innovation, including a more enterprise friendly environment of personal and corporate taxation, I am confident that we are reinforcing our competitiveness and laying the foundations for a sustainable improvement in competitiveness relative to competing economies. These policies will ensure that Ireland remains a competitive economy from which to do business, especially in the high technology growth industries on which the knowledge economy of the future will rely.
