Address by Minister Ahern, Minister for Innovation Policy at the Presentation of ISO 17025 to Calibration Technology Ltd.

13 November 2007

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure for me to be here today for the presentation of the ISO 17025 to Calibration Technology Ltd and the official opening of the Calibration laboratory.

Given my relatively recent appointment as Minister for Innovation Policy, I believe it is appropriate for me to be here at Shannon Development’s Innovation Works, which is Ireland’s first digitally-networked business incubation centre. Innovation Works facilities help foster the entrepreneurial environment that is vital to today’s fast growing enterprises so it is an ideal location for growing high potential, knowledge-intensive companies.

I wish to congratulate Calibration Technology on their attainment of the ISO 17025 certification - it is an excellent achievement and I am sure it will stand the company in good stead in the years ahead as looks to develop its business further.

Certification of standards of excellence, such as the ISO standards, are very important in the business world – both nationally and internationally.

In my previous portfolio as Minister for Trade and Commerce over the past 5 years I had responsibility for, amongst other things, the National Standards Authority of Ireland, - so I am extremely conscious of the importance of businesses setting, achieving and maintaining high-quality standards to ensure that we can continue to enjoy the tremendous economic success Ireland has enjoyed over the past decade or so.

The Irish National Accreditation Board was established in 1985 to accredit calibration and testing laboratories. The INAB is a division of Forfás – which is the sole national body responsible for accreditation in accordance with the EN 45000 series of European standards and the relevant International ISO standards and guides.

The INAB's co-operation with other accreditation bodies in Europe and globally means that Irish organisations' certificates are recognised both nationally and internationally, providing both the organisations and their customers with confidence in the product or service being offered. In short – ISO certification provides a competitive edge for those firms, such as CTL , in their particular market.

In recent years I have also been fortunate enough to experience at close hand how positively Ireland and our vibrant economy is viewed on an international scale, and recognised by many as something to be copied.

Ireland should consistently be seen as one of the world’s most desirable small economies in which to grow a business, develop a career and live a rewarding life in a stable yet progressive society. Part of this will involve the setting, achieving and maintenance of world-class standards of excellence, and high-class certification processes such as the ISO certification certainly helps in this regard.

However we must not be complacent because the future development of Irish enterprise depends on rigorous standards and a constant commitment to ensuring quality and excellence.

In to-day’s world the pace of Innovation is increasing rapidly. Scientific and technological progress continues to forge ahead, placing heavy demands on Irish business not only to stay abreast of these changes but also to learn quickly how to use change to their own advantage.

In today’s rapidly changing business environment companies have to be prepared to operate at the cutting edge of development and to meet new challenges. Irish enterprises must be focused, flexible and selective if our economy is to continue to perform at the forefront. There is no option to stand still, enterprise must continually update and improve its structures, processes and services and one way to do is to attain the high standards needed to earn accreditation to ISO 17025 level.

That is why I was pleased to learn that Calibration Technology Ltd is the first in Ireland dedicated pipette calibration laboratory to receive this accreditation - a tremendous achievement given that this small company was only established in 2005.

Laboratory Accreditation by the INAB is a formal recognition that the laboratory is competent to carry out calibrations both in its laboratory facility and at client’s premises. Accreditation to ISO 17025 recognises that the laboratory has competent staff, appropriate calibration equipment and suitable laboratories, and that it carries out its work according to recognised practices and procedures.

ISO 17025 was developed specifically to give guidance to laboratories on both quality management and the technical requirements for proper operation. This standard can be considered the technical compliment to the renowned ISO 9000 series. The updated ISO 17025 emphasises the need for continual improvement of the management system and allows for a greater focus on customer satisfaction.

I also understand that CTL has developed its services in recent times through assistance from Shannon Development and more recently from Enterprise Ireland, and it is encouraging to hear that CTL expects to expand fairly quickly and is projecting a staff complement of twenty by 2012.

With the Managing Director, Brian Kelly’s experience in establishing business, I know that CTL has been able to develop a number of strategic national and international partnerships which include companies in the USA, Germany, Denmark, Singapore, Australia and UK – so I have no doubt that there are even more exciting times ahead for the company.

The Government, primarily through the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the enterprise agencies, is working hard to create the conditions for businesses to succeed and to help Ireland to respond to the ever increasing challenges to it’s competitiveness position presented by globalisation.  In order to deliver the Government's overall ambition for wealth creation and productivity growth, sustained business investment in innovation will be necessary. 

For its part, under the National Development Plan, the Government is making very significant investment indeed in the Irish science base and educational arenas, to maintain future economic stability; improve Ireland’s competitiveness position on the international stage through higher productivity; and to sustain high levels of employment into the future.

You are all probably aware that we are now well into Science Week Ireland 2007. With over 400 events running across Ireland throughout the course of this week, the aim of Science Week is to promote the message that science and technology is relevant to us all in our everyday lives - and to communicate that these areas contribute hugely to the Irish economy through the development of cutting edge innovation and the provision of high skilled jobs. The success of CTL, and the direction the company is taking, I think proves this very point.

In finishing may I just re-iterate that today marks the culmination of a lot of hard work, dedication and effort by the staff of CTL - so it gives me great pleasure to officially present the ISO 17025 Certification to Brian on behalf of you all.

I would like to wish all associated with CTL the very best of luck into the future and I have no doubt that you will continue to develop and build on this excellent achievement. Well done again.

Thank you.

Ends/IP23