Important role of skills prompts historic All Island conference
9 October 2008
Government Ministers from the north and the south today attended the first All Island Skills Conference in the North West.
The Conference, entitled ‘Building Better Skills Together’, was jointly opened by the Employment and Learning Minister, Sir Reg Empey MLA, and the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Tanaiste Mary Coughlan TD. Sean Haughey TD, Minister for Lifelong Learning, also participated.
This was the first collaborative event organised by the Northern Ireland Skills Expert Group and the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs.
Among the issues highlighted was the importance of creating a suitably skilled workforce, tailored to the needs of employers, along with the many benefits of collaborating on an all island basis. The Conference attracted presentations from leading national and international topic leaders and provided a platform for the launch of the ‘All Island Skills Study’ which has been developed jointly by the expert groups and will provide a comprehensive analysis of the skills demand across the island.
Speaking at the Conference, Sir Reg Empey said: “Skills must be at the heart of any dynamic and innovative economy and this conference provides ample evidence that this message is supported at all levels throughout the island of Ireland.
“It is only with an appropriately skilled and flexible workforce can we support the growth of our indigenous industries and maintain levels of foreign direct investment that have benefited us all so much in recent years.”
Sir Reg stressed that governments alone cannot create a workforce that fulfils the future needs of employers. He said: “Employers also have a major part to play. They need to step up to the ‘skills challenge’ in terms of identifying the skills they need, encouraging their staff to upskill and in providing opportunities which will attract and retain the best talent. Only then will we have any chance of achieving our goal of a dynamic and innovative economy.”
Commenting on the publication of the All Island Skills Study, Tanaiste Mary Coughlan said: “The importance of ensuring that we provide the necessary environment and supports to promote growth and to realise to the fullest extent the education and career potential of every individual is a shared objective of our respective administrations. I am particularly pleased, therefore, that co-operation in the joint review of the labour market of this island, and especially its skills development needs, has resulted in this All-Island Skills Study.
“Its publication gives practical expression to the material benefits of positive cooperation between our respective Departments and Agencies. As the responsible Government Ministers we want to see this cooperation continuing and intensifying in the years ahead.
“Discrete work programmes might now be identified and delivered in a sequence that will positively impact on the objectives and outcomes of our respective education and training systems and so ensure that we progressively improve our performance.
“Such improvement is key to the realisation of wider social and economic goals. It is key to enhanced productivity, to innovation, to heightened competitiveness, to job creation, to increasing exports and bettering trade performance in the global market in which we both operate.
“Now, as never before, education, skills and competencies determine the quality of individual lives, their earning potential and their general wellbeing. That is why this work is so important and valuable. I sincerely commend all who have contributed to its advancement.”
NOTES TO EDITORS:
1.For more information visit the All-Island Skills Conference website
2.Media queries to the Department for Employment and Learning Press Office on 028 9025 7872.
3.Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.
