Dan Neville (Limerick, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Sometimes NGOs are resented by certain people in the public service, as if they are interfering. Chambers Ireland has suggested that more could be done with regard to its work with the various institutions. Does Chambers Ireland, as an NGO, find there are barriers with regard to developing relationships?

Senator Norris raised a parochial point I also wish to raise. Chambers Ireland has Enterprise Europe Network offices in five affiliated chambers, but not in the mid-west. Limerick and Shannon are not bases for the European network offices although they are key industrial and NGO development areas. Some companies have gone out of business but there should be connectivity with smaller businesses, which are affected by what happens with larger companies. There is a network and a large NGO presence complementing the larger organisations, but they have the potential to develop their own markets also. However, there is no Enterprise Europe Network there. I would like to hear a comment on that.