Eco-innovation in

Ireland

EIO Country profiles 2010

April 2011

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Eco-Innovation Observatory

The Eco-Innovation Observatory functions as a platform for the structured collection and

analysis of an extensive range of eco-innovation information, gathered from across the European

Union and key economic regions around the globe, providing a much-needed integrated

information source on eco-innovation for companies and innovation service providers, as well as

providing a solid decision-making basis for policy development.

The Observatory approaches eco-innovation as a persuasive phenomenon present in all

economic sectors and therefore relevant for all types of innovation, defining eco-innovation as:

“Eco-innovation is any innovation that reduces the use of natural resources and decreases the

release of harmful substances across the whole life-cycle”.

To find out more, visit www.eco-innovation.eu

Any views or opinions expressed in this report are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect

the position of the European Commission.

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Eco-Innovation Observatory

EIO country brief 2010: Ireland

Author: Arnold Black

Coordinator of the work package: Technopolis Group Belgium

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Part 1. General profile of country: innovation and environment in Ireland The island of Ireland covers over 84,421 km2 of which approximately five-sixths belong to the Republic of Ireland (70,280 km2/27,135 sq mi) and the remainder constitutes Northern Ireland of the United Kingdom. It is bounded to the north and west by the Atlantic Ocean, and on the east coast is the Irish Sea. Aside from a significant Marine resource, including traditional oil and gas and renewable energy (wave, wind and tidal) it also has some limited natural mineral resource and agricultural potential (for example biomass energy).

Natural resources: Natural gas, peat, copper, lead, zinc, silver, barite, gypsum, limestone, dolomite.

Agriculture products: Root crops, barley, wheat; beef, dairy products

Industries: Food products, brewing, textiles, clothing; chemicals, pharmaceuticals, machinery, transportation equipment, glass and crystal; software.

With the lowest corporation taxes in Europe attracting many global high tech industries such as Google and Pfizer and previously being seen as the „Celtic Tiger‟, the Irish economy is still essentially a dual economy with less competitive and innovative national firms struggling while foreign direct investors use Ireland as a base for production and exporting in EU. Ireland is currently experiencing one of the deepest recessions in the developed world - economic activity has slumped, property prices plummeted, unemployment has risen sharply, government borrowing is increasing rapidly and private household debt remains very high[i]. However, the rate of contraction is slowing as the economy adjusts to the recent domestic and international crises. Although GNP declined by 11.3% in 2009, the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) predicts that it will decline by 0.5% in 2010 and grow by 2.25% in 2011. In December 2010, the Irish government committed to aggressively raising taxes within the next year, selling off the nationalised banks as soon as possible and instigating a new budget, in exchange for the €85b in emergency funding[ii] being received from the European Union (EU) and International Monetary Fund (IMF). Nonetheless, the OECD expects that the domestic adjustment will be prolonged and economic recovery weak given the significant gap in the public finances, growing national debt, high and increasing unemployment, falling disposable incomes and weak household consumption.

Part 2. Eco-innovation performance With an overall score of 101, Ireland eco-innovation performance is very close to EU average (=100) and it is ranked number nine as illustrated in the bar chart Figure 2.1 below. However the radar diagram (figure 2.2.) shows a much more complex picture and illustrates that Ireland scores well below EU-15 average in three components of the five Eco-innovation composite index. In the area of Environmental outcomes it is close to average but very significantly above in the areas of Eco-Innovation outputs.

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Figure 2.1 EU27 Eco-innovation scoreboard, composite index Eco-innovation inputs Regarding eco-innovation inputs based on R&D human resources and R&D fund allocations by the government in energy and environmental field, Ireland shows up as a second top performer with over 219 (after Finland scoring 288). The EU average is set at 100 with the EU15 average at 129.

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Figure 2.2 Eco-innovation composite index components In 2007, Ireland‟s share of total R&D personnel and researchers (as percentage of total labour force and total employment) was just below the EU average (1.43%) with a figure of 1.4%. This shows that Ireland‟s technological and R&D capabilities for eco-innovative activities are in line with the more advanced EU member states but by no means anywhere near the front runners such as Austria on 2.12%. The amount of Cleantech venture capital investment in 2007-2009 was €278m, which is significantly higher than in most other Western European countries, well above Austria at only €31m. However even the Irish number is still only a third of the investment total of the leader, Germany. These numbers should be treated with some caution as definitions vary slightly from country to country. In terms of the financial inputs, the Governments‟ environmental and energy R&D appropriations and outlays were approximately 3% of GDP in 2008 which was close to the EU15 countries (and EU average) of 4%. However, this level of investment is well below that of Finland (10%), Spain (8%) and Italy (7%). Moreover this figure is likely to decline significantly in the future due to the dramatic fall in GDP and the 2011 austerity budget. Eco-innovation activities In sharp contrast to the eco-innovation input figures, Ireland is one of European‟s lowest ranking performers as regards eco-innovation activities. This measurement is based on the activities of companies reducing material use though innovation and the number of EMAS certified organisations. In 2008 Ireland was recorded in CIS data as having 28% of firms reducing material consumption per unit of output, contrasting with the best performing countries in this criteria (Portugal and Germany) having closer to 38%. In addition the CIS data recorded only 6 Irish organisations as being EMAS registered in 2007 compared to 1464 in Germany and 905 in Spain for the same year. This equated to only 1.4 EMAS registered organisations per million of Irish population compared to Spain with 20.3 organisations per million followed by 17.8 organisations per million in Germany. This figure may be misleading however as Irish companies prefer to adopt more international standards such as ISO 14001 and in 2007 for example there were around 294 ISO 14001 Irish registered organisations which was a similar to the number of Austrian registered with ISO 14001. On the standard measure of Eco Innovation activity these figures above Ireland scores 62 while the top performers (Spain and Denmark) score above 200. Eco-innovation outputs Eco-innovation outputs are expressed as the number of eco-patents and as detailed in figure 2.2 Ireland is very weak in relation to the EU15 average. The number of eco-patents amounted to only 0.7% per million inhabitants. In the EU27 comparison Ireland performs very poorly compared to the Netherlands (5.6%), Denmark (5.4%) and Germany (5.4%). Moreover, this represents a fall of 60% compared to the „boom‟ time of the late 1990‟s. The low number of eco-patents appears to be correlated with the weak R&D expenditures related to eco-innovation. However little precise empirical data is available for this measure and this could just be an issue of definition. Environmental outcomes Ireland‟s Environmental Outcomes score is the lowest of all its eco-innovation indices (see Figure 2.2), with a material productivity of less than 0.7 €/kg in 2007. This puts Ireland well below the EU27 average of 1.51 €/kg and, like many of the other low performing EU countries, this is primarily due to the high consumption of fossil fuels and construction minerals. Ireland‟s energy is nearly entirely imported (96% in 2007) and energy productivity was 955 €/ton of oil equivalent in 2008. With the GHG emissions intensity of the whole economy of 0.45 kg CO2 equivalent/€ in 2008, Ireland is one of the worst EU perormers. As a result, Ireland is likely to miss its Kyoto target for absolute emissions. Unfortunately, Ireland has insufficient data to allow meaningful figures for a corresponding water productivity value.

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Socio-economic outcomes Socio-economic outcomes are calculated as an aggregate indices of employment in eco-innovation industries, the size of eco-innovation markets, and exports of eco-innovation products. Overall the Irish eco-industry has developed very slowly and Ireland is performing poorly to date. In 2008 only 0.34% of the Irish workforce was employed in eco-industries, compared to the EU27 average of 1.49%. With a figure of 0.81% of GDP invested in the eco-industry market in 2004, Ireland is characterised by low eco investment performance (in comparison with Romania at 5.58% and Austria at 4.43%, which are amongst the highest). Total turnover of the Irish eco-industry was €1,211m in 2004, several orders of magnitude lower than, for example, Austria at €10,090m. Only 0.14% of total Irish exports are related to eco-innovation, or €170m worth of exported eco-innovation products in absolute terms.

Part 3. Leading eco-innovation areas Innovation in Ireland: The Irish Government clearly recognises the value that investment in R&D and innovation represents, both to maintain economic competitiveness and to improve living standards. This is reflected in the 2006 Government documents Social Partnership Agreement, Towards 2016 [i], and Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation (SST&I) 2006–2013[iii] and again in the 2007 National Development Plan (NDP) 2007–2013[ii] setting out the Government‟s targets in relation to science, technology and innovation and the mechanisms for achieving them. For example it states “over the lifetime of the NDP the Government will invest €8.2b in initiatives designed to enhance human capital, physical infrastructure and commercialisation related to science, technology and innovation”. Most of this investment will go towards the implementation of the SST&I, launched by the Government in May 2006. This should bring Ireland into line with R&D performance in leading countries and will enhance the development of a knowledge-based economy. This target seems to have survived budget cuts with a November 2011 press release of the Ministry for Communications, Energy and Natural Resource claiming that €8 billion would be invested from 2012 to 2014 in sustainable energy including renewables and a SMART grid Sustainable development The 2008 Irish Government‟s document, Building Ireland‟s Smart Economy[v], sets out a framework for economic renewal based on the principles of sustainable development. The Government clearly believes that continued investment in developing environmental technologies is an appropriate fiscal stimulus in an Irish context, even post crisis, which should be spent domestically and could provide a high rate of return in terms of future economic growth. They believe that the eco-environmental technologies field provides a significant opportunity. Not only is this one of the fastest growing market areas internationally, but such technologies also reduce pressure on the environment and improve resource efficiency (whilst supporting competitiveness and job creation). For example the Irish Environment Protection Agency (EPA) whilst being responsible for championing the cause of a clean and healthy environment is also tasked to play a significant part in the economic recovery of the country. Examples from the EPA funded Cleaner, Greener, Production Programme (CGPP) are detailed below

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Good practice examples

Example 1: GALCO Case Study The reduction and subsequent recovery of Galvanising Pickling Acid Galco Steel Ltd. is the largest hot dip galvanizer in Ireland with plants located in Dublin, Cork and a recently acquired plant in Waterford. They employ approximately 240 people between the Dublin, Cork and Waterford. The Dublin site has 2 galvanizing baths with the Cork and Waterford sites each having one bath and Galco are in the process of establishing a new plant at Kilcock, Co. Kildare. Hydrochloric acid is used as a pickling solution for steel, i.e. it removes rust, prior to galvanizing. During the process the acid is consumed and the iron content increases until the solution is no longer suitable for pickling. Pilot plant microfiltration trials were carried out on site to investigate cleaning up the spent pickle and extending the life of the pickling bath. While the trials showed some benefits in terms of water use, acid use and waste reduction, costing showed it to be commercially unviable. At this stage of the project Galco focused their investigations on how to extend the lifetime of the pickling solution using the knowledge gained. This project at a hot dip galvanising plant originally aimed to investigate the feasibility of an acid recovery process and production of an iron solution more suited for use in the waste water treatment industry in Ireland. However as a result of the extensive investigations undertaken by Galco as part of this project, an alternative solution has been implemented which is in fact further up the waste prevention hierarchy. Increased analysis of spent pickle made Galco more aware of the chemistry of their process and they are now moving to implement simpler solutions which will improve the quality of their spent pickle. Galco is implementing modifications to produce a spent pickle by-product which will be more acceptable for use in municipal waste water treatment plants. The steps involved will be:

Implementing acid degreasing, replacing the current caustic degreasing system, giving reduced sludge and better pickling efficiency.

Pickling at a higher temperature giving a lower acid solution with a higher iron content (increased energy use is compensated by reduced energy use in the degreasing step).

Adding iron oxide to the spent pickle in a controlled reaction to boost the iron content and reduce the acid content of the pickle.

In Galco‟s new plant, zinc will be practically eliminated from the spent pickle through the design of the plant equipment and layout. This is a classic case of cleaner production - i.e. do not create a waste stream in the first place. Galco has continued cleaner greener production work in other areas – water usage has been reduced throughout the plant by 36% between 2005 and 2006 (about 3000 m3) through increased controls and collection and reuse of drips and spillages. The full environmental impact of the changes currently being introduced in Galco has not yet been quantified; however there will be improvements in the following areas: • Zinc reduction at source - in the new plant there should only be minimal zinc content in the spent pickle. • Reduced acid and water use due to pickling at a higher temperature. • Extended productivity from pickling acid, less sludge for disposal. • Less tankers off-site for disposal, tankers that are going off-site will only be within Ireland, not for export. • Spent pickle will be of improved quality having lower acid content and higher iron content as a result of pickling at a higher temperature and iron enrichment.

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Example 2: IRISH Hospitality Institute Case Study – Environmental Reviews The Irish Hospitality Institute IHI (formerly the Irish Hotel and Catering Institute (IHCI)) was founded in 1966 as the professional body for managers in the hotel, tourism and catering industries in Ireland. It is a voluntary non-profit organisation with a focus on the professional interests and needs of managers in the Irish hospitality industry. The Greening Irish Hotels programme identified eco-environmental opportunities using the following tools:

Environmental Reviews

Environmental Benchmarking

Networking and supplier review

Environmental Review Each of the core hotels in the programme received an environmental review from the programme consultants. This involved an on-site review of unit operations, interviews with staff, and management by skilled environmental auditors. Opportunities for environmental improvements/cleaner production were identified and outlined in the reviewers report. Each hotel was then revisited by the programme consultants and an environmental management programme developed, to target opportunities for environmental improvement/ Cleaner Production. The programme achieved the following:

56 Hotels were engaged in more than 20 counties.

Hotels involved in the programme included 3, 4 and 5 Star Hotels representing c.10 % of Irish Hotel Room stock.

23 training sessions/workshops were held with over 600 person training sessions delivered.

40 Environmental Reviews were carried out and Cleaner Production Plans created.

Environmental Management principles were introduced to in excess of 3,000 employees.

Best practice standards were identified across Waste, Water & Energy, and the Irish Hotel Industry was Environmentally Benchmarked for the first time.

Quantifiable environmental achievements included 1,113 tonnes of waste diverted from landfill and 3,000+ tonnes of CO2 output reduced by the end of 2006.

The programme also identified future industry opportunities for Energy Savings of €61,900,000, Waste & Water Savings of €19,400,000, CO2 Reductions of up to 162,000 Tonnes, Water consumption reductions of up to 4.5 million cubic metres and Landfill Waste reductions of up to 56,000 tonnes.

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Example 3: ChipSensor (formerly Cratlon) Case Study – Introduction of new materials in microchip development.

ChipSensors Ltd (Cratlon Ltd) is a semiconductor company developing novel sensors in foundry sector for Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) for temperature, humidity, certain gases and pathogens. In 2005 the company identified a trend in the semiconductor industry to introduce new materials and recognised the potential of these porous oxide materials to produce embedded sensors. The aim of the project was to develop a low cost integrated humidity and temperature sensor where sensor element and signal conditioning electronics are combined in a silicon chip. The combination of innovative sensor materials and silicon chip economies of scale make it feasible to produce very low cost building and environmental monitoring systems. Recent studies from European Governments like the TNO and Halmos report for the Dutch government indicated that building Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems are often operated inefficiently with energy wastage as high as 35%. ChipSensors developed a low cost, silicon microchip sensor that demonstrated humidity and temperature sensing for use in Building Energy Management (BEM) applications to control this process. However the technology is also applicable to other environmental and energy sensitive applications, e.g. monitoring of perishable goods, white goods, etc. The commercial availability of such cheap easily installed wireless sensors will significantly cut energy wastage in buildings. The company is now actively pursuing commercialisation of the sensor and, with a patents pending, has spoken to leading manufacturers in the two most commercially promising market segments. Commercial discussions are ongoing but achievements to date include;

Prototypes have been built and evaluated and performance compares very favourably to commercially available discrete devices.

As the sensor is manufactured in standard CMOS it offers a very cost effective solution for building monitoring and other energy saving and environmental sensing applications.

Part 4. New trends: areas on the rise All new Government activity is now likely to be subservient to the „national growth‟ agenda of growing their way out of the recession. This imperative is clearly affecting the innovation agenda as the appetite for „risk‟ (financially or innovatively) is now very low. Consequently the private sector is now expected to generate wealth without innovation support from the Government. Despite calls for changes to the low corporation tax levels, this is unlikely if only to avoid some highly innovative,

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employment generating foreign owned companies leaving. Those with high asset investment like the pharmaceutical sector are unlikely to leave quickly but might reduce future investment. Those will low asset investments like the IT companies could (and would) easily relocate elsewhere. As with many Member States, Ireland is continuing to mainly invest in energy efficiency and sustainable transport. Energy Efficiency The Government pledged to increase the production of renewable electricity to meet the new increased target of 40% of electricity from renewable resources by 2020, currently at 10% in 2007. In addition EirGrid will spend €4 billion between 2009 and 2025 building a new electricity transmission system to tap into renewable energy resources. The Irish Gas Board, Bord Gáis, have set out a €5 billion investment strategy to develop clean energy technologies with the East - West interconnector to be completed in 2012 while planning further interconnection to the UK and the Continent. A framework was in place during 2009/10 to support the development of self-generation projects1 by large industry as well as micro-generation in the small business, agriculture and domestic level. Currently they are fast tracking commercialising of ocean energy technologies under the Ocean Energy Development Programme 2008-2012. This represents a key priority to reduce their energy dependency, a major contributor to their poor environment outcomes score in section 2, and indeed become at least a local net (renewable) energy exporter to the UK. This represents significant infrastructure investment on both sides of the border which has yet to get bi-lateral Eire/UK Government approvals. Sustainable Transport With large urban populations Ireland transport strategy is mainly related to improving mass public transport. However from an eco innovation stand point they are investing in smart solutions. There is an aspiration to link Irish ICT/broadband objectives and transport policy by promoting home/e-working, supporting „internet on the move‟ in public transport, grants for electric vehicles, commitments to „urban intelligent charging point‟ supported by a SMART grid agenda.

1 http://www.windenergydirect.ie/Userfiles/proj.pdf

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Example 1: The Wavebob Wavebob is an Irish company established by physicist William Dick in 1999. The company has developed a unique Wave Energy Convertor – „Wavebob‟, which harnesses the immense power of the ocean to produce clean, renewable energy. Headquartered in Ireland but operating on a global basis, the Wavebob is a floating buoy device that will automatically adjust its response to suit the prevailing wave climate and so maximise the amount of useful power that may be delivered to the electricity grid on-shore. [i] The Wavebob is an axi-symmetric, self-reacting point absorber, primarily operating in the heave mode. It is specifically designed to recover useful power from ocean wave energy, and to be deployed in large arrays offshore.It incorporates a number of highly innovative features, protected by a series of World patents that have been assigned to the Company. The following are considered to be key features: Survivability: The Wavebob is an axi-symmetric buoy structure on slack moorings which makes it inherently sea-worthy. Its ability to de-tune in seconds is vitally important in a resonating energy absorber. Response to long period and high waves: Unlike all other self-reacting heaving buoys, the Wavebob‟s natural frequency may be set to match the typical ocean swell (Atlantic 10”, or Pacific 15”), facilitating good energy absorption. It can ride very large waves and still recover useful power. Tuning and control: The Wavebob has exceptional facilities for almost instantaneous tuning and longer period adjustment of natural frequencies and bandwidth. On-board autonomous control is a feature, and there is considerable scope for intelligent systems, for example individual units co-operating in arrays. These are highly significant attributes in changing wave climates, so typical of the North Atlantic. Accessibility: The outer torus has a diameter of the order of 20metres, and an overall height of 8 metres, allowing adequate space for the power train and control systems below decks. As a large floating structure, Wavebob is relatively stable in all but the most severe storms Low operating and maintenance costs, high availability: O&M costs have a massive bearing on the costs / kWh delivered. Only well-proven and standard marine hydraulic components and generators are installed. The Wavebob typically carries three or four motor-alternator sets, all or some of which may be entrained, depending on incident wave energy. In-built redundancy facilitates remote switching and high availability when weather conditions might preclude maintenance visits. The main device remains on site (for up to 25 years), with individual components being replaced and taken ashore for servicing as necessary. Low capital costs: The main hull structures will be assembled from smaller pre-cast and extruded concrete units manufactured using widely available and standard processes. There is no requirement for deep water facilities or dry docks. The main hull structures would be towed to site and attached to prepared moorings. High power output: Average electrical power 500kW and greater is expected from North Atlantic sites. Power output will be synchronous with low VAr. [i] http://www.wavebob.com/downloads/irish_examiner20_10_09.pdf

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Example 2: CEL (Connaught Electronics Ltd.) An Irish electronics company established in Galway in 1982 and currently employing 200 people, CEL is a world leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of high quality electronic products for the automotive industry. CEL specialise in remote keyless entry systems and general body electronic control units. Customers include BMW, Rover, Volvo and General Motors. CEL manufactures the electronic component in cars that receive and manage the remote vehicle security keyless entry (RKE) signal from the key fob transmitter. The UHF receiver unit, fixed within the car, consists of a printed circuit board packed with a number of electronic sub components. The Environmentally Superior Products Project (ESP)[i] was to improve the environmental life cycle of these RKE units. The project resulted in the substitution of the unit‟s principal sub component (previously a Japanese import) with CEL‟s own component while also achieving significant environmental benefits, namely a 40% reduction in materials content (particularly hazardous materials) and a three fold reduction in the unit‟s energy demand. The new unit is also easier and cheaper to produce. [i] http://www.envirocentre.ie/includes/documents/Electronics150304.pdf

Part 5. Public policy in support of eco-innovation In 2008 the Irish Government adopted a Framework for Sustainable Economic Renewal. One of the underlying aims of the plan was to implement a „new green deal‟, which was part of the Renewed Programme2 published in October 2009. As with many EU Member States this had been seen as large Infrastructure projects broadly tackling the Climate Change agenda rather than innovation per se. The majority of this is on water infrastructure, grants for home insulation improvements and smarter travel. The Government previously committed almost €17 billion of investments in the low carbon sector in the 2008-2020 period. This figure included private sector investment in renewables through the Feed-In Tariff (REFIT[ii]) scheme; investment in the electricity transmission and distribution network as well as investment in public transport and on the Ocean Energy Programme. Due to the recent bailout of the Irish economy and the terms imposed by the EU and IMF, an emergency budget has now been published. The main casualties have been abolition of tax allowances on property, reduced social care provision and increases in fuel costs. The budget was characterised by „winning‟ Government Departments getting the smallest budget cut rather than any Department budgets increasing! In addition all the budgets going forward for all Departments show a year on year real decrease until 2014. For example the Environment, Heritage and Local Government Department 2011 budget was cut by 23% to €1.6 billion and Enterprise, Trade and Innovation Department by 21% to €901 million. By contrast the Communications, Energy and Natural Resources 2011 budget was only cut by 3.5% to €475 million. The saving fall disproportionately on staff cuts while protecting capital spending projects. Specifics investments related to eco innovation include an increase of 93% in the support for Smarter Transport from €10m to nearly €20m and an increase in the grant to the Dublin - City of Science bid of 55% from €500K to €830K.

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Part 6. Understanding eco-innovation performance: Drivers and Barriers The challenge for Ireland is trying to stimulate growth by innovating in the higher risk arena of „green technologies‟. The ongoing objectives are clearly Renewable Energy, Material/Waste reduction, Sustainable Transport. The current Government has identified some of the drivers and barriers to Eco-innovation including; Regulatory and planning barriers Despite high levels of investment in the grid reference in Section 2, the length of time required for renewable energy projects to connect to the grid has acted as a major impediment to market development. This has been recognised by the Government with budgetary commitments to maintain investment in the renewable energy sector. In addition easing of infrastructure planning regulation is being proposed. However this is conflicting with local „green‟ agenda particularly in regard to areas with a high tourism income. Green public procurement barrier. Ireland is well behind European best practice in relation to green procurement. The scale of government spending in the economy being dramatically reduced and this is unlikely to improve unless „intelligent‟ eco innovation procurement standards are implemented. Access to ‘green’ finance barrier. Access to finance is a challenge for all businesses but especially green enterprises. Whilst not unique to Ireland this is viewed as particular difficult here due to the state of the Irish private banking sector. The offer of Government funded reduced interest rate loans, for a limited time, to companies investing in producing environmentally friendly products using „eco‟ capital equipment allowances was protected in the recent budget but the business support programmes to implement such activity was slashed which is likely to limit it‟s uptake. In addition the private sector venture capital investment is still relatively under-developed (Ireland ranks 12th in the EU15) and hence is an unlikely source of support. Waste Handling barriers and Material Recovery drivers This sector is a balance between delivering waste disposal infrastructure through tax penalties/incentives, which is seen as a barrier, whilst promoting minimisation and material recovery technologies, which are seen a significant economic drivers. To maintain the former the Government has maintained spending on infrastructure but unfortunately cut back on the innovation budget to promote the latter. Development of the material recovery area will continue to be difficult for due to lack of Government support. It can be concluded that the Irish Governments intentions are favourable to eco innovation investment but the state of the public (and private) purse has severely restricted their aspirations. Consequently investment is being conserved for „tried and tested‟ low risk environmental solutions and as a result eco innovation is being seen to suffer. This situation is likely to remain unchanged until the financial crisis improves.

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References : [i] Comhar Sustainable Development Counsel (Comhar SDC), 2009. Towards a Green New Deal for Ireland. Comhar SDC Report and Recommendations, october 2009. Source: http://www.comharsdc.ie/publications/index.aspx?PAuto=274 [ii] http://www.ndp.ie/documents/ndp2007-2013/NDP-2007-2013-English.pdf [iii] http://www.deti.ie/publications/science/2006/sciencestrategy.pdf [iv] http://www.ndp.ie/documents/ndp2007-2013/NDP-2007-2013-English.pdf [v] http://www.taoiseach.gov.ie/BuildingIrelandsSmartEconomy_1_.pdf [vi] http://nation-branding.info/2010/06/16/brand-ireland-as-good-as-gold/ [vii] http://www.cleanerproduction.ie/results/Companies/Tretorn%20Sport%20CGPP%202004-27.PDF [i] http://www.comharsdc.ie/_files/2009_TowardsGNDIreland_rpt.pdf [ii] http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/Energy/Sustainable+and+Renewable+Energy+Division/Electricity+from+Renewables+inc+REFIT+and+AER.htm [iii] http://www.forfas.ie/publication/search.jsp?ft=/publications/2009/title,5065,en.php [iv] http://www.taoiseach.gov.ie/BuildingIrelandsSmartEconomy_1_.pdf http://www.competitiveness.ie/publications/2010/title,6560,en.php http://www.thejournal.ie/eu-approves-irelands-e85bn-bailout-deal-2010-11/ http://www.comharsdc.ie/publications/index.aspx?PAuto=274 http://www.ndp.ie/documents/ndp2007-2013/NDP-2007-2013-English.pdf http://www.deti.ie/publications/science/2006/sciencestrategy.pdf http://www.ndp.ie/documents/ndp2007-2013/NDP-2007-2013-English.pdf http://www.taoiseach.gov.ie/BuildingIrelandsSmartEconomy_1_.pdf http://nation-branding.info/2010/06/16/brand-ireland-as-good-as-gold/ http://www.cleanerproduction.ie/results/Companies/Tretorn%20Sport%20CGPP%202004-27.PDF http://www.wavebob.com/downloads/irish_examiner20_10_09.pdf http://www.envirocentre.ie/includes/documents/Electronics150304.pdf http://www.comharsdc.ie/_files/2009_TowardsGNDIreland_rpt.pdf http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/Energy/Sustainable+and+Renewable+Energy+Division/Electricity+from+Renewables+inc+REFIT+and+AER.htm http://www.forfas.ie/publication/search.jsp?ft=/publications/2009/title,5065,en.php http://www.taoiseach.gov.ie/BuildingIrelandsSmartEconomy_1_.pdf Additional references http://www.forfas.ie/publications/2004/title,819,en.php http://www.forfas.ie/publication/search.jsp?ft=/publications/2008/title,1930,en.php http://www.forfas.ie/publication/search.jsp?ft=/publications/2009/Title,5910,en.php http://www.proinno-europe.eu/page/innovation-and-innovation-policy-ireland http://www.deti.ie/publications/science/innovationpolicystatement.pdf http://www.competitiveness.ie/publications/featuredpublications/title,7075,en.php http://www.budget.gov.ie/budgets/2011/Documents/Summary%20of%20Measures%20Combined.pdf http://www.idaireland.com/innovation/ http://www.ecology.or.jp/isoworld/english/analy14k.htm 1

http://www.taoiseach.gov.ie/eng/Taoiseach_and_Government/Programme_for_Government/Renewed_Programme_for_Government_October_2009.shortcut.html