Speech at HP’s Liffey Park Technology Campus, Leixlip

I am delighted to be with you today to mark the 40th anniversary of Hewlett-Packard in Ireland.

I would like to thank Martin Murphy for his invitation to visit these impressive facilities, to meet you all and hear about your plans for the future.

I don’t need to remind you all how important HP is to Ireland: 4,000 employees across the country choosing Ireland as your strategic centre for business excellence and customer support investing over $1billion in this Campus alone.

In addition, HP plays a very active role in Irish community and public life.

For example, Martin Murphy and Lionel Alexander both play a leading role in representing the views of business to Government, and by serving on State boards.

It will take a tremendous national effort to turn the economy around and regain our economic sovereignty.

And this Government is keen to listen and learn from people at the coalface of business as we tackle the current economic crisis.

The fact is that Ireland is still great place to do business.

The recent visits by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and President Obama have reminded the World of Ireland’s strengths and what Ireland has to offer.

Despite the challenges facing us, I am positive and confident about Ireland’s recovery.

Our economy will return to growth this year.

We continue to attract significant levels of inward investment. IDA Ireland secured 126 investments in 2010 and its client companies created almost 11,000 new jobs.

The Government is unequivocally committed to the retention of Ireland’s 12.5% rate of Corporation Tax, which is a long-standing and necessary part of our enterprise strategy.

We have made significant improvements in competitiveness relative to our trading partners.

R&D activity in Ireland trebled in the last decade and is still increasing.

We have a very high volume of business start ups and a strong entrepreneurial culture.

We export 80% of what we produce. In 2010 our exports grew by 6%. By the end of 2011, we expect our exports to exceed our record, pre-recession level.
Recent Progress

I do not underestimate the challenges that lie ahead.

But I believe that in these early few months in Government we have made a good start.

We are completely restructuring our banking system around two pillar banks.

The recent Jobs Initiative introduced a range of measures to help generate employment and stimulate confidence.

The visits of Queen Elizabeth and President Obama have helped to improve international perceptions of Ireland.

We are undertaking a comprehensive spending review to identify the large expenditure savings we need to make over the next few years.
Innovation

Another crucial element of our Strategy is to develop Ireland as a centre of high quality R&D and innovation.

We need to get better at turning research into new products and services by developing more partnerships between industry and researchers.

Only last week, the Minister for Enterprise, Jobs and Innovation, Richard Bruton, launched new, industry-led technology centres in manufacturing research and energy efficiency.

I know that HP is involved in a lot of research activity in Ireland, and I believe it will help to maintain and grow jobs in the years ahead.
Cloud computing

One specific area of opportunity identified by the Government is Cloud Computing. We want to make Ireland a leader in this field.

As a first step, we are establishing a new €5million technology centre in Cloud Computing, which will be an industry-led effort to carry out market-focussed R&D.

We aim to build a partnership between multi-national and indigenous companies, with input from Universities and Research Agencies.

I welcome HP’s expansion of your Cloud Services Centre in Galway over the last year, and I am sure you will be at the heart of future developments.

As I said at the outset, we need a national effort to overcome this crisis.

The Government can only create the conditions which allow business to create jobs.

That is why I want to learn more about how Government can help you develop and grow.

I want to work directly with business to solve the problems facing the country.

For example, the Jobs Initiative includes a new National Internship Programme to provide 5,000 places for people who are unemployed.

We are looking to business to provide opportunities for young people to get some experience in the workplace.

I am delighted that Martin Murphy has agreed to chair the group overseeing this Programme and help make it a success.
ConclusionIn conclusion, I would like to once again thank you for inviting me here today to see this really impressive campus.

I’m delighted to have met so many people here and value your ideas and views.

Visits like this give me great confidence for the future of the country.

Congratulations on your 40 year anniversary here in Ireland. I wish you every success for another 40 prosperous years.