Mary White (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge the great work that InterTradeIreland does North and South. Another lady and I started Lir Chocolates in 1987. Mr. Hunter McGowan is correct. Our first exporting steps were into the North. It is a great experience to go into a different culture and jurisdiction. It is a different world and there are different ways of doing business. The professional culture in the North is different. It was my job in the company to do the initial exporting steps and I fully appreciate what is involved. I have it to say, in front of my political colleagues from the North, and I have absolutely no doubt from my experience, that business people in this part of the country, the Twenty-six Counties, were ahead of the politicians North and South on relationships. The business people were ahead of the politicians. It used to fascinate me that people were doing business under the radar while there was still a distance to go in resolving the crisis in the North.

The point that annoys me most is that the British Government will not support or even come closer to the 12.5% corporation tax. A short time back, Prime Minister David Cameron said that he will not have any further discussions or decision on it until after the Scottish referendum. It is very disappointing. It is a terrible waste. Over the years, it has been the politicians in the North who have held back working with us. I know that from my own information. The politicians and the DUP in the North were very reluctant to work with the IDA here but there is now no doubt that things are changing.

I thank InterTradeIreland for its participation in the steering group on the initiative for the centre for cross-Border studies, which is launching an exciting new project towards a Border development. Getting employment going North and South is high on the agenda of this committee. I started a business here when the unemployment rate stood at 17%. Becoming unemployed is the most serious thing that could happen in a person's life. Getting jobs for people is critical. I compliment InterTradeIreland on its great work. The witnesses are correct that 70% of exporters take their first steps by starting cross-Border sales.

Mr. McGowan said that InterTradeIreland is trying to encourage more companies here to export but if the person does not have the fire in their belly Mr. McGowan will not make them do it. To become an entrepreneur and develop a business outside one's safe home zone one has to be a risk taker and have no fear. One cannot drum that into people, if they do not have that fire for their businesses. It has to come from within one's soul that one wants to bring this business to an export level. Enterprise Ireland has come a long way in helping companies and giving them contacts around the world. That was not available in my time. I made the steps into the North. I subsequently became very politically involved in the North. I thank the witnesses and wish them the best of luck.