strategy statement03 - 05

Contents

SECTION ONE ~ The Environmental Analysis 7 Introduction 8 International 8 Output 10 Inflation 11 Prices and consumer issues 12 Wage and productivity trends 13 Employment 14 Industrial Relations 18 Employment Rights 19 Social Inclusion 20 Industrial Performance 20 Research and Development 22 The Information Society 25 The Environment and Sustainable Development 26 Regulation & Markets 27 The European Union 31 The institutional environment 33 The resourcing environment 35 The National Spatial Strategy 35 Cross-Departmental issues and relationships 36

SECTION TWO ~ Conclusions of the Environmental Analysis 39 Economic openness is growing 40 Labour market policies and programmes need fundamental reappraisal to achieve quality employment 41 Enterprise policy, programmes and structures must continue to change 43 Science, Technology and Innovation: a key driver of competitiveness 44 Effective regulation and more effectively functioning markets are vital 45 Importance of the European Union 46 Need to achieve more with constrained resources 46 Summing Up 47

SECTION THREE ~ Mission, Structure and Goals 49 Our Mission 50 Pillars of Our Strategy 50 Departmental Structure 50 Our Goals 51

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3.4.1 Enterprise, Innovation, Growth 51 3.4.2 Quality Work and Learning 51 3.4.3 Making Markets and Regulation work better 52 3.4.4 Quality, Value and Continuous Improvement 52 3.4.5 The European Union 52

SECTION FOUR ~ Strategic Actions and Performance Indicators 53 Pillar One ~ Enterprise, Innovation, Growth 54 4.1.1 Science, Technology and Innovation 55 4.1.2 Enterprise Policy 57 4.1.3 Competitiveness Environment 59 Pillar Two ~ Quality work and Learning 61 4.2.1 Training and Employment Supports 62 4.2.2 Work permits/migration 64 4.2.3 Employment Rights and Entitlements 64 Pillar Three ~ Making Markets and Regulation work better 68 4.3.1 Insurance 68 4.3.2 Competition and consumers 69 4.3.3 Companies 70 Pillar Four ~ Quality, Value and Continuous Improvement 72 4.4.1 Strategy and Planning 73 4.4.2 Managing change for improvement 73 4.4.3 Enhanced openness, transparency and accountability 74 4.4.4 Human Resources Management 76 4.4.5 Quality customer service 77 4.4.6 Financial management and control 78 4.4.7 Information Systems 79 Pillar Five ~ The European Union 80 4.5.1 Presidency 2004 and Enlargement 81 4.5.2 EU Constitutional and Institutional reform 81 4.5.3 Horizontal 81 4.5.4 Enterprise, Innovation, Growth 82 4.5.5 Structural Funds Operational Programmes, Existing and New 84 4.5.6 Quality work and learning 85 4.5.7 Making Markets and Regulation work better 86