Government announces task force on green economy

Tánaiste Mary Coughlan and energy minister Eamon Ryan today announced the establishment of a high level action group on the green economy. The government said the aim of the group was to "unlock all the institutions of government, across a range of departments in the promotion of a new direction for the Irish economy."

Launching the 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.” Harford is a member of the board of Sustainable Energy Ireland and served as president and CEO of the Japanese pharmaceutical firm Astellas for 20 years.
 
"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," the Tánaiste said. "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 action group is expected to report to the government after four months.
 
Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Eamon Ryan added: “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.”

The membership of the group is as follows:
 
Chairperson – Joe Harford
Declan Murphy – Ecology Foundation
Eddie O’Connor – Mainstream RP
Claire O’Grady-Walshe – AfrI
Colin Gordon – Glanbia
Brendan Tuohy – Former Secretary General Dept Public Enterprise & DCMNR
John Fitzgerald – ESRI
Martin Eves – EnviroGrind
Richard Kennedy – Kedco Ltd
Rosheen McGuckian – Group Corporate Development Director, NTR plc