Minister for Enterprise Micheál Martin has appointed former AIB chief executive Michael Buckley as chairman of a new advisory group which will report to the Government on enterprise policy and the implementation of the Enterprise Strategy Group recommendations.

Five other senior business figures have also been appointed to the group, among them the Cantrell & Cochrane group chief executive Maurice Pratt.

The others are: Glen Dimplex chief executive Seán O'Driscoll; Softco Ltd executive chairman Susan Spence; Intel Ireland strategic development manager Helen Keelan; and Chemicals Ireland chief executive Maurice Healy.

Mr Martin said he had asked the advisory group to report to the Government twice a year. "To ensure Ireland remains a superb location from which to trade globally means we have to respond to the needs of enterprise just as quickly as enterprise has to respond to market changes," he said.

"The group will advise on how we can make Ireland one of the most attractive and competitive advanced economies in the world by using the Enterprise Strategy Group blueprint to best advantage."

Mr Martin said he was particularly interested in hearing the group's views on how improvements in productivity could be accelerated. "Radically impro-ving productivity across all business sectors is a competitive imperative we cannot ignore. Transforming the rate of productivity in all sectors of the economy will substantially reinforce our ability to maintain and improve living standards."

A Government decision is awaited on the demand from the strategy group for the removal of the Groceries Order, which prohibits the below-cost selling of packaged goods.

This is being resisted by Fianna Fáil backbenchers, although Mr Martin has indicated that he might change the order instead of revoking it entirely.