I note that a recommendation to this effect was made in the second entrepreneurship report of the Certified Public Accountants, which was published last year. The recommendation was made in the context of ensuring enterprises, particularly start-up and early stage firms, can find people with the right skills, having regard to:
- The positive work of the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs in assessing and identifying skills needs and advising Government on skills needs and labour market issues that impact on enterprise and employment growth;
- The work of the FÁS Skills and Labour Market Research Unit which provides the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs with data, analysis and research and manages the National Skills Database;
- The ongoing establishment of the INTREO service by my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection which provides a wide range of supports and services to assist with company employment needs and is designed to make sure companies can access potential employees from the live register;
- The development of the Jobs Ireland recruitment service for employers who want to advertise their job vacancies to job seekers on the Internet and in Employment Service Offices;
- The vibrant private sector recruitment industry in Ireland; and
- The recent improvements I have made to the Employment Permits regime working in tandem with my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills to enhance the availability of ICT graduate level professionals through the education system and the employment permits system.
I do not have any plans to establish a national skills register at this time.
