Tánaiste announces establishment of High Level Action Group on Green Enterprise
The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mary Coughlan, T.D., announced today (Thursday 21st May 2009) that she has established a High Level Action Group on Green Enterprise. The establishment of the Group follows on from a commitment in Building Ireland’s Smart Economy, the Governments’ framework for sustainable economic renewal.
There is huge potential for the green economy to help Ireland meet its economic and environmental challenges. The Tánaiste pointed out that latest estimates put the size of the global environmental goods and services market as exceeding ¤950 billion by 2010. The value of this sector for Ireland is growing and estimated to be more than ¤2.8 billion in 2008.
In launching the new Action Group, the Tánaiste said “I am delighted that Joe Harford has agreed to Chair this very important High Level Action Group. Joe has a strong track-record of working at the highest levels in cutting-edge enterprises, both multinationals and indigenous.”
On the green jobs front, the Tánaiste stated “I believe the green economy provides Ireland with a tremendous opportunity to create quality jobs in a sustainable and high growth sector. I want this Group to build on the work already undertaken by Forfás * on the Environmental Goods and Services Sector on the Island of Ireland.
“Only last week, I announced 180 jobs in Claremorris in a next generation bio-processing research, innovation and manufacturing centre which involves a ¤40million investment with the potential to grow to 300 jobs within three years. More recently, I unveiled details of a number of new wide-ranging FÁS courses for the construction sector focused on the new wave of green and clean-tech opportunities coming on-stream nationally.”
The Tánaiste recognises the contribution that her Green Party Government colleagues have made in establishing this Group which will report to Government after four months.
Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Eamon Ryan said, “The green economy will provide an immediate boost for our country in these times. Ireland has huge potential in the area of our natural resources and the generation of real wealth and jobs. This Group will be tasked with mobilising our talents across the public and private sector to position Ireland as at the forefront of the new global green economy.”
ENDS/ETE 2050
Notes to editor:
Forfás published the study Environmental Goods and Services Sector on the Island of Ireland, Enterprise Opportunities and Policy Implications, in October 2008.
http://www.forfas.ie/publications/
The Forfás study sees the main sub-sectors with potential environmental goods and services opportunities as:
- Renewable energies
- Efficient energy use and management (including eco-construction)
- Waste management, recovery and recycling
- Water and wastewater treatment
- Environmental consultancy and services
Membership of the Group
- Joe Harford, Chairperson
- Dr Rosheen McGuckian, NTR,
- Martin Eves, Envirogrind Limited
- Richard Kennedy, CEO Kedco PLC
- Eddie O’Connor,
- Declan Murphy,
- Claire O’Grady-Walsh,
- Colin Gordon,
- Brendan Touhy,
- John Fitzgerald.
Nominations at Assistant Secretary level from the following organisations
- Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
- Department of the Taoiseach
- Department of Finance
- Forfás
- IDA Ireland
- Enterprise Ireland, and
- Sustainable Energy Ireland
Secretariat, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Forfás
A number of other Departments and Agencies will be invited to take part in joint meetings to enable them to contribute to the development of the Action Plan and contributions may be sought from other organisations. Secretariat will be provided jointly by this Department and Forfás.
ENDS
Last modified: 21/05/2009
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