With his passion for the theatre, Dan Flinter must feel that his five-year stint as chief executive of Forbairt was a dress rehearsal for his new role as head of the six-month-old State agency, Enterprise Ireland, which published its first results yesterday.
Unsurprisingly, the tiger is purring. Results show a net increase in employment of 4,200 in companies supported by the new agency. Enterprise Ireland's main constituent is the former indigenous development agency, Forbairt, and the export agency, An Bord Trachtala (the Trade Board). It also includes the industrial training division of FAS.
The new agency is larger, and has a new structure and a policy shift which allows Mr Flinter to delegate more often. "The organisation is a more integrated one, my role is more confused," he jokes.
His role, in fact, is "an exciting opportunity". "We have an organisation that can operate across the full business systems of companies. We are not focused on one or two aspects of the company."
He argues that no developed country has maintained its standard of economic wealth without developing a vibrant indigenous sector. For Ireland, it means one that has to be big enough to compete on international markets, is committed to research and development and is evolving marketing strategies for its export sales. He concedes that some sectors are suffering, such as clothing manufacturing companies, which, like their IDA-assisted relative, Fruit of the Loom, have to compete against cheap imports. But he points to "encouraging signs", like the Michael Heather company, which won a British award last year for Clothing Brand of the Year. Likewise, the beef and general food sector is under pressure to consolidate to achieve larger economies of scale, but he says that "serious growth" has occurred over the past four years in "prepared consumer foods", which have a high value-added level and have grown from an £8 million industry to a £1.4 billion one in four years.
He is a long time supporter of companies investing in technology and innovation and he notes that high growth companies are now generally involved in software or technology development. The overseas regional offices formally operated by the Irish Trade Board will play a role in developing the sector. "We want to use that network not just to develop the international marketing opportunities for Irish companies, but also to identify new technologies." Enterprise Ireland has identified North America and Europe as key markets, with IT and software companies doing particularly well in the US. Mr Flinter describes a co-operation agreement recently signed with the US Small Business Administration as one that will "accelerate" the growth of Irish companies. The agreement with Ms Aida Alvarez, one of President Clinton's cabinet, aims to create strategic alliances with US companies which are not of a sufficient scale to make direct inward investments. "There is a huge array of young US firms which want to internationalise," he says.
The unemployment rate is down to 7.2 per cent and if the Government target of 5 per cent within two years is reached, the State will be close to full employment. But we have not "arrived" and never will. "The great risk we have got to avoid is to assume that there is a status quo and that when you arrive at it, no further change is necessary". Mr Flinter says the reality now is one of constant change and there is "an inevitability about the process of interdependence". "We are on a path of continuous improvement and we have to recognise that if we are not on that path our competitors will pass us out."
The transition over to Enterprise Ireland has hit a bumpy patch over the grading of the payment structure and the Labour Relations Commission has become involved in "a non-dispute mode" in the negotiations between management and the two main unions, SIPTU and MSF. Mr Flinter says he hopes to end up with between eight and 10 different grades, "a major simplification of the grading structure that existed prior to this". He used to act with the amateur group, Sandyford Little Theatre, but now is content to enjoy theatre performances as his "big interest". He also enjoys literary fiction, citing Snow Falling on Cedars, Captain Corelli's Mandolin and Cold Mountain as recent favourites.
He has a masters in economics from UCD but says he is now probably in the category of "failed economist", having sold out by taking up developmental roles, first with the IDA where he rose to become director of overseas investment before taking up the role of chief executive of Forbairt. "Being involved in economic development has a high value for me both professionally and on a personal level," he says.
Enterprise Ireland has an international focus having taken up the international offices run by the former Bord Trachtala, representing a kind of homecoming for Mr Flinter. "There are interesting parallels," he notes.
Although the process of evolution of State agencies implies criticism of how these former bodies functioned, Mr Flinter maintains a civil servant's reserve in pointing to any past sins. He steers a delicate line between not criticising Enterprise Ireland's constituent parts in their former existence, while defining a new policy orientation. When he was appointed to Forbairt in 1994 he said it would be "more than just a combination of parts of IDA and Eolas [the former science and technology agency]".
But he faces the same task with Enterprise Ireland after the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Ms Harney, referred to the "duplication and confusion" of the former agencies.
He says Enterprise Ireland will be client-focused, rather than being a provider of programmes, and will provide "a champion" who will take responsibility for clients' needs, or "take arms against a sea of troubles", as Hamlet would have said.
