Harney sets up Enterprise Strategy think-tank

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment, Mary Harney, recently announced the membership of the Enterprise Strategy Group.

The 11-strong think-tank has been established to advise and make recommendations on Ireland's future policy options for encouraging and generating growth and employment in the economy.

Making the announcement, the Tánaiste said that she believed that the group had the right mix of experience and expertise to enable it to make a significant contribution to shaping Ireland's enterprise strategy.

She said: "I have asked this group to report to me within the next six to nine months. That is an onerous task but one which I believe the group is well equipped to undertake. Each of the individuals has something unique to bring to the table. Their combined knowledge and understanding of the key issues driving enterprise is critical to the task at hand."

The Membership of Enterprise, Strategy Board is as follows:

• Mr Eoin O Driscoll (Chairman), Managing Director of consultancy firm Aderra;
• Dr Reg Shaw, Managing Director Wyeth;
• Mr Des Geraghty, General President of SIPTU;
• Mr Alan Dwyer, Managing Director of Eurostyle;
• Mr Rory O'Donnell, Director of the National Economic and Social Council of Ireland (NESC) and Chief Officer of the National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO);
• Dr John Hegarty, Provost of Trinity College Dublin;
• Mr Frank Kenny, founder of venture capital firm Delta Partners;
• Dr Rita Gunther McGrath, Assistant Professor Columbia Business School;
• Mr Jim Hoey, Managing Director of Masonite Ireland since 1996;
• Mr Hugh Friel, Managing Director of Kerry Group;
• Mr Nicky Hartery, Dell's head of manufacturing operations in EMEA;

The Tánaiste expressed her appreciation to the Chairman, Eoin O'Driscoll, and to each of the members for their willingness to participate in the work of the group: "I wish them well in their work and look forward to receiving their report in due course".

(SP)