strategy statement03 - 05

Respond to significant company closures or downsizing

through State Agencies and other relevant interests with a view to securing alternative employment for workers affected.

Performance Indicator: Summary of measures taken to secure alternative employment for workers affected.

Competitiveness Environment

Co-ordinate response to, and implement recommendations of,

National Competitiveness Council reports including, in particular, the “Competitiveness Challenge” document;

Performance Indicator: Action Plan completed by 2004.

To complete a new statement of national trade policy and seek

to identify and facilitate the exploitation by Irish companies of new opportunities for trade and investment through effective engagement in multilateral negotiations and bilateral contacts;

Performance Indicator: Strategy completed by end September 2003.

Review (including a customer survey) the Late Payment

Regulations to ensure that they are effective in improving payment times, particularly to small business;

Performance Indicator: Survey findings regarding payment times and review paper on options for future possible legislation to be produced by September 2003.

Hold Round Table meetings to continue our dialogue with the

small business sector;

Performance Indicator: Meetings to be held twice annually.

Operate a structured consultation mechanism with overseas

industries, with particular reference to the ICT and pharmaceutical sectors;

Performance Indicator: Meetings held with each sector twice yearly.

Monitor and evaluate, on a coordinated basis, strategies and

supports to grow and develop the biotechnology sector;

Performance Indicator: Biotechnology Coordinating Committee established.

Address the problem of the apparent under-utilisation of

intellectual property protection by small business by identifying reasons and developing solutions;

Performance Indicator: Undertake an examination of this issue in consultation with relevant interests from industry and state agencies and develop, by December 2003, recommendations, where required, with related timeframes, as appropriate.

Review arrangements for the control of trade in military and

dual-use goods;

Performance Indicator: Completion of review of arrangements for control of trade in military and dual use goods by end 2003.

Critically examine the recommendations in the Forfás Report

“Legislating for Competitive Advantage in eBusiness and ICTs” in relation to intellectual property;

Performance Indicator: Examine Report’s recommendations on IP aspects and formulate positions thereon by December 2003 with related timeframes, as appropriate.