In 2023 my Department has played an important role in delivering our priorities under the Programme for Government and in delivering cross-Government policy objectives as set out in documents such as the National Planning Framework and National Development Plan, the Climate Action Plan 2023, Harnessing Digital – the Digital Ireland Framework and to our international commitments including the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The Government’s White Paper on Enterprise 2022-2030 sets out the medium- and long-term ambitions for a vibrant, resilient, regionally balanced and sustainable economy made up of a diversified mix of leading global companies, internationally competitive Irish enterprises and thriving local businesses.
The recently published report on implementation of the White Paper shows we are making good progress across a range of initiatives.
The Implementation Plan 2023-2024 identified 40 initiatives, with 93 underlying activities, across the seven priority pillars set out in the White Paper on Enterprise. In the first half of 2023, 83 of these activities were undertaken, with 10 not yet scheduled to commence. 10 activities are currently completed as of H1 2023, with 61 activities on track for completion against their intended target dates. 12 are currently delayed against their intended targets, but are expected to be completed.
The employment situation is generally well-balanced regionally, and the enterprise agencies have seen year-on-year increases in IDA Ireland client expenditure, increases in the number of large Irish exporting companies and the number of High-Potential Start-Ups (HPSUs) supported by Enterprise Ireland, and Irish-owned enterprise productivity growth. Moreover, enterprise agency targets for regionally balanced development were either met or almost met in 2022, with 52% of all FDI investments located outside of Dublin (against a 50% target over multiple years) and 64% of new jobs created in Enterprise Ireland-assisted firms outside of Dublin (against a 2 out of every 3 jobs target).
The update report also shows that strides have already been made in the implementation of key initiatives across all priority policy objectives. Among other progress made the report shows:
• Carbon abatement has now been integrated into the Oversight and Performance Delivery Agreements of Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland;
• Work is underway on the development of a national strategy for offshore wind, with stakeholder groups established and a broad outline agreed;
• Efforts towards a more circular economy have progressed, including through the launch of the Food Waste Charter 2.0 under the EPA;
• Four new European Digital Innovation Hubs are now fully operational, to support the digitalisation of the economy;
• A High-level Trade Conference took place in Dublin during July 2023, promoting awareness of the opportunities of trade in what will be a series of annual Trade Horizons conferences;
• Enterprise agencies are facilitating green and digital transformation in the FDI and Irish exporting base, with IDA supporting nearly €40 million in decarbonisation investments and EI supporting 86 climate projects in the first half of the year, alongside ongoing efforts to enhance digital adoption across the enterprise base;
• Irish exports have expanded to exceed €30 billion in total value, with efforts to diversify ensuring that more than 70% of exports now go to markets elsewhere than the UK, well ahead of schedule against the end of 2024 target;
• A framework was launched on a pilot basis to enable LEOs to support companies with international ambition employing more than 10 and less than 50 full time employees, addressing an existing gap in the scaling pipeline;
• Dedicated funding has been launched to support locally traded enterprise to navigate their decarbonisation journeys, in addition to increased funding to aid decarbonisation and encourage digitalisation and innovation across the enterprise base, through new and existing schemes;
• Multiple new European Regional Development Fund initiatives were launched during Q1 2023 to increase innovation, commercialisation, and innovative spin-outs;
• Work is well underway on the development of a Co-ordinated National Approach to Clustering, due to launch in 2023; and
• Work continues on a whole-of-Government basis to enhance Ireland’s competitiveness framework conditions, including enhancements to green skills provisions, the creation of a working group to increase access to finance, and the delivery of a Roadmap for Increased Adoption of Modern Methods of Construction which will modernise construction and infrastructure provisions.
In addition to progressing a range of legislation in the areas of workplace relations, digital, trade and commerce, in 2023 my Department continued to prioritise engagement with the broad base business, employer and employee representative groups and stakeholders, through initiatives such as the LEEF, Enterprise Forum, the Retail Forum and the Company Law Review Group. White Paper on Enterprise Update Report H1 2023.
The details of my Department's policy achievements for the year 2023 will be set out in our annual Report for 2023 which will be published next year.
