Deirdre Clune (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his time here today. Last week, Open Ireland appeared before the committee and it would have been useful for all of us if we had the progress list the Minister has given us today on ICT action and the graduate training and retraining programmes.

I am interested in online trading. We all think of retail as the biggest online trading business, with €7 billion spent online in this country, 70% of which goes abroad.

Retail is always changing and anyone involved in the sector must be reactive and always look ahead. I hope the Minister will not have to prod people to take the vouchers. They should be allocated to those who have a plan and will appreciate their value. They must not be wasted. Many businesses would not necessarily use such a voucher online. Ireland has much going for it, including a large number of young graduates who could provide the types of services businesses require to have an online presence. The individuals receiving the voucher should have a business plan in place and be ready to use it. How will the scheme be implemented?