Speech by Minister Martin at the launch of RIM 21 INTERREG IIIA Cross Border Robotics Project and the Lean Manufacturing Forum

On Wednesday, 11 ^th January, 2006 At the Institute of Technology, Sligo

Ladies and Gentlemen, Distinguished Guests

I am very pleased to be with you all today to launch this important technology project. I would like to thank Dr Richard Thorn for his kind invitation to be here with you today. I would also like to welcome Trevor Nielands and his colleagues from the North East Institute of Further and Higher Education. I commend the Institute of Technology, Sligo and the North East Institute of Further and Higher Education in Ballymena for coming together to assist engineering companies on both sides of the border to develop expertise in the emerging technologies of Robotics and Computer Integrated Manufacture.

The Global Economy has changed much in the last generation and change is likely to be the only constant for the future. Therefore, the best way to improve the island’s international competitiveness is through co-operation for mutual benefit. This project does just that. Global competitiveness is creating a growing need for improvements in efficiency and productivity. This project offers bespoke training for SMEs, which will give them a competitive advantage in the increasingly contested global marketplace.

For this reason the project is important for regional development. But I also see RIM21 as something much, much more. Eoin O’Driscoll’s Enterprise Strategy Group spoke about the need to strengthen our SME’s and to rely more on their growth for future prosperity, especially in advanced manufacturing. In so doing we have to move from an enterprise philosophy of jobs and growth, to one of competitiveness and productivity.

This project demonstrates how we will encourage a real transformation in how we do business more productively and clearly identifies our determination to adapt to globalisation pressures. There is an imperative to drive productivity upwards not only in high technology sectors but right across the spectrum of manufacturing. This puts the importance of today’s launch in a new dimension – a race to the top in terms of competitiveness and securing sustainable prosperity for both economy and society.

Achieving higher productivity is a real priority and the consistent productivity improvements that RIM21 promises is hugely important both for the North West region and for the whole island. If we don’t place a priority on higher productivity today we forego the opportunity of higher real incomes tomorrow and the social benefits that prosperous economies, North and South, can provide for the island. Consequently, for me the involvement of Sligo IT and Ballymena’s North East Institute of Further and Higher Education in this project is of greater all island significance.

Because of this I would like the thank the European Union for providing, through the INTERREG IIIA programme, seventy five per cent of the €1.4 million grant awarded to this project. The remaining twenty five per cent was contributed by both Governments There have been economic and social problems in most border areas in the European Union and the INTERREG programme was designed to tackle these.

The INTERREG IIIA programme is worth one hundred and eighty two million euro (€182 million) over six years to Northern Ireland and the six Southern counties adjoining the border. Our membership of the EU has brought us many benefits and programmes like INTERREG have been instrumental in developing innovative ways to deal with common problems.

INTERREG has helped to create genuine cross border partnerships and has greatly improved the economic and social landscape of the border region. The monies that have come into the region have allowed people to find common ground with their neighbours, to create economic opportunities and to work collaboratively across the border.

A word of thanks to the Special EU Programmes Body who are the Managing Authority of the Ireland-Northern Ireland INTERREG IIIA programme. The SEUPB is a cross-border implementation body set up under the Good Friday Agreement 1998. They are doing valuable work. As you may be aware, the EU sets spend targets for EU funded programmes every year which have to be met to avoid a loss of funds. Both the 2004 and 2005 targets set for our INTERREG programmes were challenging. Thanks to huge efforts by all involved – including the Irish Central Border Area Network (ICBAN) partnership - the targets were not only met but, in fact, were exceeded. I congratulate everyone involved with that achievement.

I would also like to acknowledge Irish Central Border Area Network (ICBAN) who deliver this measure in this area. As many of you know already, ICBAN is a grouping of five councils in the South – Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan and Monaghan - and five in the North – Fermanagh, Dungannon, Omagh, Cookstown and Armagh. The partnerships - as ICBAN, the North West Region Cross Border Group and the East Border Region, are commonly known - are a unique and effective delivery structure of the INTERREG programme throughout the European community. Kate Burns and her colleagues are making a special contribution to the area by identifying regional needs and directing funding to them.

The most important people to thank are the project partners, Institute of Technology, Sligo and the North East Institute of Further and Higher Education, Ballymena themselves for coming up with this innovative cross border project.

Many of you will have heard about the Lisbon Agenda which in 2000 saw the European Council set itself the goal of making Europe ‘the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world capable of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion by 2010’. This is the kind of project that is very necessary for Europe to meet this goal.

Sincere congratulations to everybody involved and I would like to wish you much success with it.

Lean Manufacturing Forum

Another example of how we can make manufacturing more competitive is through the adoption of lean manufacturing practices. The North West Lean Manufacturing Forum was set up with this objective by the Institute of Technology, Sligo, as part of its regional development role. The purpose of the forum is for companies to learn from each other and to help each other to become more efficient. There are approximately thirty companies involved in this forum.

The culture of Lean Manufacturing must be instilled in the manufacturing industry, which through applying advanced manufacturing practices will ensure wasteful activity is reduced and eliminated while value added activities are identified and promoted. The efficiencies and cost savings that are gained will also benefit the customer in reduced prices and better service.

IBEC has been instrumental in setting up the forum and the enterprise agencies have welcomed the Forum positively and complement its work. I wish to congratulate Peter Gavican for introducing this Forum for companies in the North West to succeed and compete locally, nationally and globally and I wish the Lean Manufacturing Forum every success in its work.

ENDS

ETE 1491