The State's enterprise development policy think-tank Forfás has been commissioned by Government to prepare a report into the job-creation potential that social enterprises could make.
Speaking at Clann Credo's Annual Conference earlier this year, Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore T.D. said that the Forfás report would “identify the actions required by Government” and other bodies to ensure this development took place.
He confirmed that the report was being prepared in the context of a new European emphasis on the role of social enterprise in the wider economy, with the EU Commission’s recently announced Social Business initiative designed to create a “more favourable” climate for the sector.
The Tánaiste said that this ‘new regime’ would see social enterprises enjoying better access to public procurement processes across the EU and new regulations on social business investment.
His remarks were echoed by Emmanuel Vallens, of the European Commission’s Internal Market & Services Directorate, who detailed the change of attitude towards social enterprise, at the highest levels of the Commission.
Mr Vallens cited the Social Business initiative as an example of this new approach and as proof of a change “in how the Commission sees economic growth.” He said the initiative had the full support of Commission President Barroso and the Commissioner for the Internal Market, Michel Barnier.