3rd July 2022
Varadkar says our way of life today depends on successful enterprise policy, and we need your views
The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar TD, is today urging people to give their views on the future of Ireland’s enterprise policy.
The Tánaiste said:
“Ireland’s enterprise policy for the past few decades has been an unqualified success. There are more people employed in Ireland today than ever before, our GDP and average incomes have never been higher, trade is breaking all records and the public finances are in good order in large part due to better-than-ever tax receipts from corporate profits. 2021 was the best year ever in terms of new jobs created by multi-nationals and also Irish export firms. And 2022 could be as good again if not better. Our success is based on a formula that includes talent, track record, competitive taxes, a stable pro-business environment, political stability and our position at the heart of the European Union. However, this not a time for self-praise nor to rest on our laurels. The world is changing rapidly and we need to ensure that we benefit from those changes and do not lose ground. We need to work out how to hold on to what we have, where possible, and to gain new investments, new markets and develop new industries where we cannot.
“Our economic strength is particularly impressive given the headwinds we have faced in recent years, with Brexit and the pandemic. These were two seismic events, which will be with us for a long time, if not forever. Climate change, inflation, Putin’s war on Russia, the shift in global economic and political power to global south and east, increased global competition and the digital transformation are the next set of formidable challenges that we are now facing.
“I think it’s timely to take a look at our enterprise policy and make sure it’s fit for purpose. We want Ireland to continue to be a thriving economy, with a job for anyone that wants one, work that pays and is sustainable into the long-term. This is what will secure our quality of life and living standards and we need to make sure we are doing everything we can to adapt to what is an increasingly uncertain and competitive global environment. There will be new opportunities too, and we need to make sure Ireland is well placed to take advantage of these.”
An Enterprise Policy White Paper will be published by the Tánaiste by the end of the year setting out a new vision for Ireland’s enterprise policy. It will look at the strategic direction of Ireland’s enterprise policy, the challenges ahead and the policies we can employ to respond to them.
The Tánaiste urged members of the public, industry, academia and all interested parties to take part in the consultation which is open from today.
Details are available at Public consultation on the preparation of the White Paper on Enterprise Policy where some indicative questions are posed to assist the public in making their submissions. Submissions should be no longer than 1,500 words and should be submitted by email to enterprisepolicy@enterprise.gov.ie.
The Tánaiste and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment will arrange further focused engagement with enterprise groups and sectoral bodies, particular focus groups, business schools, and an International Panel of Experts, among others.
Notes for Editor
Closing date for receipt of submissions is 5pm, Friday, 29 July 2022.
Data Protection and Freedom of Information - It is intended that all submissions received will be made available under the Freedom of Information Act 2014 (FOI) and as such may be published on the Department’s website. In responding to this consultation, parties should clearly indicate where their responses contain personal information, commercially sensitive information, or confidential information which they would not wish to be released under FOI or otherwise published. The Department's Data Protection Data Privacy Notice is available on the enterprise.gov.ie website and explains how and when the Department collects personal data, why it does so and how it treats this information. It also explains citizen’s rights in relation to the collection of personal information and how stakeholder’s can exercise those rights.
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