Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The annual report refers to Enterprise Ireland's 29 international offices. A lot of the bodies that come before this committee, including the IDA and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, have international offices.

The Chairman previously made the valid point that there is clearly a need for a more integrated approach. Can we have Irish offices that carry out multiple functions abroad? What are Mr. Ryan's thoughts on that? What linkage is there between EI, our embassies and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade? Is there scope for a more integrated approach? We need our embassies to very much be trade missions as well. Will Mr. Ryan give the committee an overview of that? Has EI plans to open more international offices?