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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 1 Nov 1989

Vol. 392 No. 4

Written Answers. - Irish Goods Council Role.

17.

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he envisages an expanded role for the Irish Goods Council; whether any extra powers or responsibility should be given to that body; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

The role of the Irish Goods Council is to provide marketing advice and assistance to small and medium sized Irish firms selling on the Irish market. The services delivered by the council form part of the State's overall effort to develop the capability of our indigenous industry, both in terms of its capacity to meet overseas competition in the domestic market and as a preparation for ventures into export markets. Traditionally, the council has delivered its support by way of sectoral trade promotions, marketing support services and industrial sub-contract services.

The council has also operated a marketplace programme under which sales and marketing graduates are placed with Irish firms which otherwise could not afford to employ them.

In 1989, additional resources were provided to the Irish Goods Council to enable it to expand its efforts to develop the marketing capability of Irish firms trading on the home market. A new in-company marketing development programme was introduced with the threefold objective of: (a) alerting firms to the opportunities and requirements of the domestic market, through a series of information workshops; (b) providing a marketing consultancy service to selected firms which demonstrate a capacity to pursue new business opportunities; and (c) assisting selected firms with the cost of appointing a marketing executive as part of a marketing development initiative.

The intention is to further intensify activity in this area in the coming years. I am satisfied that with the addition of the new measures I have referred to, the range of support services now in place represents an appropriate and adequate response to the needs of industry at this time. It should be remembered at all times that the primary responsibility for the development and expansion of firms lies with the firms themselves. Nonetheless, I am, of course, anxious that the State's delivery of support services to industry generally should be as efficient and effective as possible. I am, therefore, looking at our current arrangements to see whether perhaps some real improvements could be made.

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