The key though to our continued success is knowledge, innovation and flexibility. Despite some high profile closures in recent months, the manufacturing sector remains a robust and important part of the Irish economy. Since 2003, exports have been steadily increasing, and it is important that this statistic continues into the future particularly in light of the fact that imports have increased further over the same period. This is due to foreign products being "en vogue" with our more discerning, cash rich consumer. In addition, due to the influx of low cost/high quality produce from China and emerging economies throughout the East. The increase in exports is supported by technical recruitment figures for the over the last 4 years. Sigmar Recruitment have reported an 18% drop in lower value add manufacturing positions but this is offset by a 37% increase in more strategic and operations level positions. With increased education, training and innovation this high end growth is sustainable.

Inspite of the announcements by Pfizer and Intel in recent months Conor McGennis from Sigmar Recruitment is upbeat about the future of manufacturing in Ireland.

"The future of the Irish economy has key fundamentals working in its favour particularly the fact that Ireland has the most highly educated, confident youthful population in Europe". It is vitally important that from this position of strength that we look to training, up-skilling and promoting enterprise. By promoting this ethos we can adopt a two-pronged approach of offering a highly trained and educated workforce to multinational companies and also looking for SMEs to flourish through innovation. Entrepreneur David Courtney promotes this belief that "specialised and niche business will be largely unaffected by lower cost economies" he continues "state bodies need to support manufacturing and work to reduce set-up operating costs as they are too high at the moment". This is why it is so important that the services offered by agencies such as Enterprise Ireland are utilised by SME's to help reduce their cost base and increase their potential export market. Foreign investors consider the quality and the 'can do' flexible attitude of Irish people to be two of the country's greatest advantages. By consolidating and continuing to attract high end production and manufacturing in parallel to promoting innovate indigenous industry the future of Irish manufacturing is brighter than recent reports may suggest.