Forfas 2009 - The National Documentation Centre on Drug Use

18
Balancing short term needs and a mid term response. Crisis correctly focuses
attention on the immediate. Success requires short, medium and long term strategies.
Forfás has a deep well of expertise and analysis. During the emergencies of this year,
this has been drawn upon to provide rapid, well-founded answers and advice. To
continue to deliver in and for the longer term requires that the well of analysis and
insight be topped up. Maintaining the right balance between responsiveness and the
generation of new work is crucial.
Like enterprises, Forfás has delivered more, with less, over the last year to 18
months. In common with Irish businesses, Forfás has managed with less while
increasing its productivity and output. This is at a time when demand for policy
analysis, accreditation services and governance standards are all increasing
significantly.
Forfás enters 2010 in a very strong position, reaffirmed by the appointment of five new
business people to fill vacancies on the Board and the approval by the Minister for Finance to
appoint a permanent Chief Executive. <strong>The</strong>se appointments will ensure that Forfás can
continue to provide expert analysis and advice informed by both an enterprise and public
policy perspective.
<strong>The</strong> work programme summarised in this Annual Report was developed and delivered by the
talented team of managers and staff in Forfás under the direction of a dedicated Board of
people expert in enterprise and enterprise development, with the support of colleagues in
the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation and other government departments; and
sister agencies, IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and Science Foundation Ireland. I would also
like to acknowledge the important contributions of the members of the Advisory Councils,
particularly:
Dr Tom McCarthy, Chairman of the Advisory Science Council
Una Halligan, Chairperson of the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs
Prof. Frank Roche, Chairman of the Management Development Council
Dr Don Thornhill, Chairman of the <strong>National</strong> Competitiveness Council.
I have received the support of all of the above since I accepted the role of Chief Executive,
on an interim basis, on 7 September <strong>2009</strong>. I would like to acknowledge the contribution of
my predecessor, Martin Cronin, who led the work of Forfás for the previous seven years. I am
particularly grateful to the Chairman of Forfás, Eoin O Driscoll; to the Secretary General of
the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, Sean Gorman; and to the team of people
who manage the Divisions and Departments in Forfás. I have been privileged to lead such an
organisation in these challenging times. Studies show that experiencing the loss of success is
a strong factor in underpinning the drive for, and achievement of, future success. Ireland has
experienced success before, with the knowledge of the last two years behind us, we can work
towards achieving success again.