Minister O’Keeffe meets Commissioner Geoghegan-Quinn during week-long EU talks

25 May, 2010

The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, Batt O’Keeffe TD, will today [Tuesday] meet Ireland’s EU Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, during a week-long series of engagements in Brussels and Paris.

Minister O’Keeffe attends an EU Competitiveness Council meeting in Brussels today and tomorrow before travelling to Paris for an OECD Ministerial Council meeting which concludes on Friday.

Minister O’Keeffe said he would press for ‘strong collaboration with Commissioner Geoghegan-Quinn in advancing Ireland’s capacity for innovation in the enterprise sector in the broader European context’.

‘I know that Commissioner Geoghegan-Quinn shares my interest in advancing the innovation pipeline from research to retail so that we can transform ideas into commercialised products and processes and create the "smart" jobs for tomorrow’s workers.

‘The Europe 2020 Strategy is well-aligned with the Government’s “smart” economy plan and with the Innovation Taskforce whose recommendations I am charged with implementing,’ said Minister O’Keeffe.

Minister O’Keeffe said he would discuss the promotion of energy-efficient vehicles with his counterparts at the Competitiveness Council meeting.

‘Reducing our reliance on imported fossil fuels will create new green sustainable jobs and business opportunities provided we can agree common European standards for vehicle equipment and energy networks.

‘By 2020, 10pc of all Irish vehicles will be powered by electricity,’ said Minister O’Keeffe.

Minister O’Keeffe will hold bilateral meetings with other EU Commissioners including Antonio Tajani (Industry and Entrepreneurship); Michel Barnier (Internal Market and Services); and Viviane Reding (Justice, Fundamental rights and Citizenship).

Minister O'Keeffe's meetings with the four Commissioners take place today.

In Paris, Minister O'Keeffe will represent Ireland at the annual OECD Ministerial Council where Ministers will discuss economic recovery strategies.

Minister O'Keeffe will hold bilateral talks with the EU Commissioner for Trade, Karel de Gucht, and meet Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland-supported firms.

ENDS/ETI2220

For further information please contact:

Bernard Mallee, Press Adviser to Minister Batt O'Keeffe, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, on Tel: +353 1 631 3944, Mobile: +353 87 9173022, Email: bernard.mallee@deti.ie