Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Mr. Murray mentioned that four universities went to the same city. How can that be resolved? I am aware the different universities are all trying to deploy in different parts of China, for example. I presume they go on the basis of a contact. The usual way it happens is when somebody else has had success in a particular area. In my area, the Institute of Technology Tallaght is trying to open contacts with people in China. One of the difficulties often mentioned in regard to Chinese students is accommodation. I suppose it is the same for any group coming into a country. If accommodation can be supplied to a group of students, it is all much easier and parents are assured their children will be okay, the food will suit and there will be no cultural issues, depending on which part of the world the students come from.

In Tallaght there are apartment blocks which would be suitable for student accommodation. They are in NAMA. Joined-up thinking makes sense but the problem is that we are not very good at it within the Government or anywhere else. Mr. Murray outlined several steps. It would be useful if he set down one by one what he believes Ireland could do. It would also be useful in respect of his suggestions about where the embassies are based. My understanding is that we choose embassy locations not just on the basis of the market but where there are some members of the Irish diaspora and trade links. There is a list of factors. Maybe Jakarta and other cities in Asia do not fit those criteria.

Mr. Murray began by talking about the colonial contacts and how this has positive and negative aspects. It is a question of how to nurture that first contact. Much of what he said about language and cultural links makes sense. It is a matter of putting the package together and where we should bring it then.