Six leading private-sector figures have been called on by the Irish Government to join the Action Plan for Jobs Implementation and Monitoring Group and will help to implement seven ‘disruptive reforms’ planned for 2013.
The six industry partners, announced today by Taoiseach Enda Kenny, TD, and Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton, TD, are Liam Casey, founder and CEO of PCH International; John Herlihy, vice-president, international SMB sales and head of Google Ireland; Sean O’Driscoll, chair and CEO of the Glen Dimplex Group; Louise Phelan, vice-president of global operations EMEA, PayPal; Heather Reynolds, owner and director of Eishtec; and Dave Shanahan, head of strategic health initiatives worldwide at AbbVie.
They join the group of high-level officials and advisers that make up the Implementation and Monitoring Group, as well as the newly configured National Competitiveness Council, which as part of a new mandate is charged with reporting on how Ireland can build a competitive advantage for future Action Plan for Jobs reports.
It is expected that these six successful individuals will be able to assist in making Ireland more attractive and competitive for jobs and investment.
“Working in partnership with experienced industry figures can only improve the roll out of the disruptive reforms over the coming year,” said Bruton. “Their experience and perspective should prove invaluable as we take on these strategically significant challenges. In parallel, a newly configured NCC will generate policy advice and position papers that will also benefit from the involvement of senior industry figures, that will also now have exposure to the practical challenges of policy implementation.”
The disruptive reforms proposed include a new health innovation hub, the JobsPlus initiative to encourage employers to recruit the long-term employed, a €70m energy efficiency fund, and the establishment of a single licensing application system for the retail sector.
Other objectives include making Ireland a leader in Europe in terms of ICT graduates and big data, and to get 2,000 more small businesses trading online in 2013 and 2014.
