Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 3 Nov 1998

Vol. 495 No. 7

Written Answers. - Ecomonic Competitiveness.

Willie Penrose

Ceist:

104 Mr. Penrose asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the economic indicators considered for country rankings in the world economic forum competitiveness league; and the proposals, if any, she has to lift Ireland into the top ten economies for competitiveness. [21145/98]

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Ms Harney)

Ireland was ranked eleventh in world competitiveness in the World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness

Report 1998. The report contains a substantial number of indicators which are divided into eight competitiveness input factors i.e. openness of the economy, government, finance, infrastructure, technology, management, labour and institutions, and these are weighted to get the competitiveness ranking.

My Department's Statement of Strategy, 1998/2000, which has been laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas, sets out the strategy for improving Ireland's competitiveness rating. The Government believes that maintaining and increasing competitiveness is essential for businesses to grow and develop and, accordingly, high priority is being given to improving Ireland's competitive position. There is a continuing need to attract foreign direct investment and to strengthen the competitiveness of individual firms, especially indigenous firms, by providing an environment conducive to enterprise, economic growth and employment creation.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Government has already taken a number of significant steps to improve business competitiveness. These include major initiatives in the areas of skills, education, taxation, infrastructure and telecommunications.