John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I agree with Deputy Deasy. From a policy point of view, it is not the type of policy that sits easily with me given the background to local authorities. I suggest the committee write to the Minister suggesting, regardless of what the new arrangements will be, that the audit in regard to the Comptroller and Auditor General and the role played by him will not change. If it is as separate as it is supposed to be, these new local enterprise offices should account for their spend through the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General because we can then link it to the allocation being made to Enterprise Ireland on a year-to-year basis. We are best placed to judge the audit and performance from that perspective.

In his opening remarks Mr. Ryan mentioned that we had to focus also on the potential for exports to the BRIC countries, Korea and other countries. What is the extent of the Irish presence in China?