Vol. 414 No. 9
5 Mr. Barry asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the plans he has to help small and medium sized enterprises take full advantage of the post-1992 Single European Market; if he will appoint a special team of advisers for regions of the country to familiarise these industries in relation to (1) export possibilities, (2) joint venture and (3) partnerships; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The completion of the Single European Market presents small and medium sized enterprises with significant opportunities and challenges. The Government's Programme for Industrial Development 1989-93, which is supported by EC regional funds and which was placed in the Oireachtas Library on 23 January 1990 contains a number of sub-programmes specifically directed to develop small and medium sized industry. These include: the sub-programme for the development of Irish-owned small business, operated by the IDA, Shannon Development and the Irish Productivity Centre; the sub-programme for the development of medium-sized Irish-owned industry, also operated by the IDA and Shannon Development; the sub-programme for marketing development which is now operated by An Bord Tráchtála; and aspects of the sub-programme for science and technology and human resources development.
In relation to the marketing development sub-programme, one of the key objectives of An Bord Tráchtála is to accelerate the growth and integration of Irish business in the Single European Market. Since 1989 the Exchequer's funding of ABT has increased by 44 per cent, despite the budgetary constraints on the Government. This additional funding has enabled ABT to initiate new marketing measures which have been designed to meet the specific needs of Irish SMEs facing the challenge of the Single European Market.
The services of the major State agencies reporting to my Department are already regionalised through the network of one-stop-shops, which offer the combined services of the IDA, An Bord Tráchtála and Eolas. I am, therefore, satisfied that there is adequate regional coverage in terms of the sort of advice referred to by the Deputy and that the appointment of a further special team of regional advisers would unnecessarily duplicate services already in existence.
If, as the Minister indicated to Deputy Rabbitte, the report of the review group on industrial policy puts forward suggestions which are as radical as he said and he wants to introduce legislation which will help in resolving our employment problem, he will receive every support from me and I presume other Members on this side of the House.
Small and medium sized businesses in Ireland will be the engine used to reduce our high level of unemployment in the future particularly in the Single European Market. Many Irish-owned and Irish-located companies do not have the necessary marketing skills to enable them to take advantage of the huge potential market in the European Community post-1992. The Minister referred to the network of one-stop-shops. Instead of waiting for people to come to the doors of these shops the Minister should send out what would in effect be an army of commercial travellers to seek out industries which need help in marketing or setting up partnerships or joint ventures with similar companies in Europe so that they can take advantage of the potential market available in Europe after 1 January 1993.
The time for priority questions is fast running out.
What the Deputy suggests is largely in place and is being done. An Bord Tráchtála are approaching a great many companies which they believe have the potential to build up significant export markets and encouraging them to do so. As the Deputy knows, they have a number of regional offices which are available to people who are interested. Between February and May of this year my Minister of State, Deputy Leyden, hosted a series of seven seminars in different parts of the country to try to preach this message to small and medium-sized Irish-owned companies in particular. They are constantly under pressure and encouragement to avail of the services which are now in place to assist them. Companies which are seen to have special possibilities of increasing their export sales are intensively canvassed to that effect and pressure kept on them to encourge them to build up in that way.
May I——
A very brief question.
I will be very brief as I am anxious to get on to Question No. 6. My information is otherwise than the Minister's. I know seminars have been held and regional offices have been set up but my information is that companies are not being approached and the one-stop-shops are waiting for customers to come to them. May I ask the Minister if he will make another effort to encourage these officers to actively seek out people in their areas who need help?
Obviously An Bord Tráchtála have the names of all companies with what they consider any potential in the export market. I will ask them to get in touch individually with each of the companies again to draw their attention to the wide range of services now available to them.
I am sorry that the time allocated for dealing with priority questions is exhausted. I must now proceed to other questions.
Question No. 6 is extremely important, I am sorry that the Minister does not have time to reply to it but I hope he will take action in this matter.
I am calling Question No. 8 in the name of Deputy John Bruton.
I take it, Sir, that the replies to Questions Nos. 6 and 7 can be circulated.
Yes.
