Vol. 548 No. 4
73 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her views on the finding of the annual competitiveness report 2001 that Ireland ranked tenth of 15 OECD countries under the competitiveness score for non-labour enterprise costs; if she accepts a measure of ministerial accountability for this low ranking; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5152/02]
The indicators under the heading non-labour enterprise costs in the report concerned include telecommunications costs, energy costs and property costs.
In respect of telecommunications and energy costs the Government is committed to a policy of market liberalisation, competition and deregulation.
I am concerned at Ireland's relatively low ranking under this heading and the contribution which this makes to the overall competitiveness of the enterprise sector. The level of charges in these areas is now the responsibility of independent regulators who operate under the aegis of my colleague, the Minister for Public Enterprise. In arriving at their decisions the regulators must take into account the likely effect of such costs on Irish business.
In so far as commercial and residential property costs are concerned, the rate of increase in residential property prices has moderated recently, albeit from the extremely high rates recorded in 1998 and 1999.
