Central Role Of Skills Highlighted at First All-Island Skills Conference
9 October 2008
Working cooperatively on an all island basis will help to ensure that skills remain a key resource for a competitive and prosperous economy. This was one of the messages from Government Ministers from the North and the South today at the first All-Island Skills Conference. The conference was organised by the Northern Ireland Skills Expert Group and the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs and hosted in the North West.
The Conference, entitled ‘Building Better Skills Together’, was jointly opened by the Employment and Learning Minister, Sir Reg Empey MLA and the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Ms Mary Couglan TD. Sean Haughey TD, Minister for Lifelong Learning also participated.
Among the issues highlighted were the importance of creating a suitably skilled workforce, tailored to the needs of employers, along with the many benefits of collaborating on an all-island basis. The conference attracted presentations from leading national and international experts and provided a platform for the launch of an All-Island Skills Study developed jointly by the expert groups and which provides a comprehensive analysis of the skills demand across the island.
Tánaiste Mary Couglan commented, “The importance of ensuring that we provide the necessary environment and supports to promote growth and to realise to the fullest extent the education and career potential of every individual is a shared objective of our respective administrations. I am particularly pleased, therefore, that cooperation in the joint review of the labour market of this island, and especially its skills development needs, has resulted in this All-Island Skills Study.
Its publication gives practical expression to the material benefits of positive cooperation between our respective Departments and agencies. As the responsible Government Ministers we want to see this cooperation continuing and intensifying in the years ahead.
Discrete work programmes might now be identified and delivered in a sequence that will positively impact on the objectives and outcomes of our respective education and training systems and so ensure that we progressively improve our performance.
Such improvement is key to the realisation of wider social and economic goals. It is key to enhanced productivity, to innovation, to heightened competitiveness, to job creation, to increasing exports and bettering trade performance in the global market in which we both operate.
Now, as never before, education, skills and competencies determine the quality of individual lives, their earning potential and their general wellbeing. That is why this work is so important and valuable. I sincerely commend all who have contributed to its advancement.”
Speaking at the Conference, Sir Reg Empey said, “Skills must be at the heart of any dynamic and innovative economy and this conference provides ample evidence that this message is supported at all levels throughout the island of Ireland.”
“It is only with an appropriately skilled and flexible workforce can we support the growth of our indigenous industries and maintain levels of foreign direct investment that have benefited us all so much in recent years.”
Sir Reg stressed that governments alone cannot create a workforce that fulfils the future needs of employers. He said: “Employers also have a major part to play. They need to step up to the ‘skills challenge’ in terms of identifying the skills they need, encouraging their staff to up-skill and in providing opportunities which will attract and retain the best talent. Only then will we have any chance of achieving our goal of a dynamic and innovative economy.”
Notes to Editors:
The joint speech of Bill McGinnis, NI Skills Adviser and Anne Heraty, Chair, Expert Group on Future Skills Needs outlining the key findings of the All-Island Skills Study is available at www.skillsireland.ie
The All-Island Skills Study in full is available at www.skillsireland.ie
The Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) is a body appointed by the Irish Government to advise it on aspects of education and training related to the future skills requirements of the enterprise sector of the Irish economy. The Group was established in 1997 and is composed of representatives of business, employees, education, Government departments and state agencies.
Anne Heraty is the Chairperson of the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs. She is also founder and CEO of CPL Resources Ltd. http://www.skillsireland.ie
The EGFSN operates under the aegis of Forfás (http://www.forfas.ie) which provides research and secretariat support to it.
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Last modified: 09/10/2008
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