Meeting 5: 25th June, 2021

Productivity Liaision Group 

Location:        Online

Date:               25^th June 2021

Time:              10am

Agenda

1. Introduction
2. Discussion and presentation of the Productivity in Ireland 2019 publication
3. Future Plans
4. A.O.B

Minutes

Attendees: David Purdue (NTMA), Manus O’Donnell (DETE), Eamonn Sweeney (Department of Finance), Iulia Siedschlag (ESRI), Linda Kane (DETE), Oliver Gilvarry (DETE), Paul Goldrick-Kelly (NERI Institute), Peter Carpenter (Enterprise Ireland), Stephen Byrne (Central Bank of Ireland) ,Tim Costello (IDA Ireland), Michael Connolly (CSO), Seán O’Boyle (CSO), Yvonne Hayden (CSO), Ita Shannon (CSO).

Apologies:                Eddie Casey (IFAC)

• Following introductions, a presentation of the Productivity in Ireland 2019 was given by CSO. The presentation featured a new chapter on Innovation and focussed on some of the key indicators produced.
• A short discussion on future plans by the CSO followed covering quarterly productivity measurement and the analysis of productivity by firm size.
• The ESRI queried the composition of the ICT and Accommodation and Food sector, which the CSO clarified are service based sectors. The ESRI also asked if the calculation of the R & D expenditure as a proportion of GNI* accurately reflects a non- globalisation measure. CSO clarified that R &D expenditure is captured in the Business Expenditure on R & D survey, which excludes the inter-affiliate imports of intellectual property. As a result, both the numerator and denominator would reflect the exclusion of globalisation related events.
• A discussion was also had on the possibility of including micro firms in the firm level analysis of productivity and if digitalisation could be looked at. CSO clarified that the inclusion of micro firms in the analysis is an area that could be looked at and that digitalization was the focus of work at International level and was something the office was working on.
• The Central bank raised the possibility of splitting firms at small, medium, large level by foreign and domestic ownership also. This additional analysis will be considered following the completion of analysis by size class.,
• A query was raised by the Central Bank as to Ireland’s involvement with CompNet. CSO said the office is working with CompNet and exploring the options and the confidentiality constraints that might arise.
• DETE asked for some clarification on results for productivity in the Construction sector and CSO clarified the results for the sector in 2018 and 2019.
• Link to the frontier-series publication Food and Agriculture: A value Chain Analysis.