Then again, it's entirely possible that dawning recognition of the global business opportunity represented by environmental products and services . . . the alternative energy part of that equation capturing $173bn in investment last year by the UN's count . . .may have itself helped make the Greens more palatable to the uber-pragmatists in Fianna Fail to begin with. Because there is gold in green, and Enterprise Ireland plans to help the country get its share.

"The London Olympics brought it home, " said EI chief executive Frank Ryan. In November of last year, Enterprise Ireland hosted a networking opportunity for Irish construction firms seeking to bid for Olympics contracts in Claridge's Hotel in London. Cost estimates around Olympics construction are already spiralling. The bid's estimate of �2.3bn in costs for staging the games has already nearly quadrupled.

Earlier this year it emerged that the current estimate was up to nearly 14bn, with half of that earmarked for construction and a construction contingency fund. But pain for Britain's taxpayers may be gain for Irish construction firms and exporters.

The opportunity couldn't come at a better time, as it is hoped that the Olympic construction work will help to draw footloose workers laid off in the Irish housing downturn.

Three months after the London event, Ryan got to see the fine print of the criteria for eligibility for bids. Ryan learned that any company wanting to qualify to participate had to establish its 'green credentials' before being allowed to bid: "That's when we realised how important this would be."

This was partly because of domestic UK concerns about climate change, but it was also a key part of the Olympic bid process itself as different cities vied to be seen as the greenest contender. London's bid, with emphasis on carbon-neutral public transport and promises of renewable energy and sustainable construction techniques, was most convincing.

Keeping those promises will prove to be a boon for Irish firms that can be 'early learners' in finding their niche in the complex procurement process and help to burnish Ireland's reputation as a centre for green expertise in construction, heating, waste, water and energy. Even the adoption of the plastic bag levy is helping market our green credentials.

"There will be a big concentration in this area, " said Ryan. "We foresee strong export growth in this area over the next five years."

By EI's reckoning, global annual sales of Irish environmental products and services run to 680m, and the agency predicts that the number is set to see growth of 15-20% in the next three to four years.

They are already working with more than a dozen firms in the sector, Ryan said, mentioning waste-handling products firm JFC Manufacturing and 'smart' building monitor firm Cylon Controls.

To help promote further innovation along these lines, EI offers a 31,000 grant to companies that re-engineer a product line to make it more environmentally friendly.

If their predictions prove true, the boost from environmental products and services to Irish exports will come at a crucial time.

After several years of remaining practically flat at under 10bn, Irish exports grew 12% in 2006 to 11.8bn. But with the dollar/euro rate running as high as it is, Ryan concedes that performance will improve but is unlikely to grow at the same clip this year.

He stressed that the currency rate, like the oil price, is not something Ireland is able to do much about. "I think we should focus on things we can do something about, and that means fostering innovation throughout the whole supply chain, " he said.

One of the features of Ryan's tenure at Enterprise Ireland has been a focus on measurable targets for the agency's activities, itself something innovative for a state body.

The 2005-2007 strategy adopted by the agency, 'Transforming Irish Industry', set five targets for the agency's activities.

These included 3bn in new export sales by the end of this year, an increase in the number of indigenous companies spending significantly on R&D and helping more than 300 firms implement productivity and competitiveness programmes.

"Measurement is vital, " said Ryan. "If you're not measuring, you're doing it for fun."

He adds that the agency has 70 internal targets for its activities.

Like his former colleagues at the IDA, Ryan resists the idea that the number of Irish jobs created by EI client companies is the best measure of success . . . particularly in an economy has been at or near full employment for the past few years.

In more developed economies, Ryan argued, it's the growth of exports and the level of innovation that matters. But he does concede that a jobs figure will be hard to shake off. "It's part of the culture of the past, " he said, a hangover from a time when he first joined the IDA in 1978 and unemployment was 17%.

His IDA counterpart Sean Dorgan has announced he'll be stepping down at the end of this year. While a search is underway for a successor at IDA, Ryan rules himself out for that post. He does, to be sure, have enough on his plate.

CV

FRANK RYAN

Age: 54
Job: Chief executive, Enterprise Ireland
Employment: Appointed to EI in 2003; previously spent 25 years in various roles at the IDA Ireland, joining August 21, 1978, leaving as executive director; previous jobs included work at a Dundalk computer firm and a stint as an air traffic controller
Education: Masters in business strategy, Trinity College Dublin; Advanced Management Programme, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania; Christian Brothers, Dundalk