Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the witnesses. It is a very interesting discussion and I am particularly interested in the last comments regarding the community interest companies and the B Corps. In some way, every company is worth its salt or is reinvesting to some degree, whether it be a local supermarket employing local people and sponsoring the local football team and so on. Most companies are putting something back, one would imagine, or they are doing so if they are sensible and responsible.

Mr. Mulconry said that if we were employing up to the EU average in social enterprises, we would be talking about 65,000 jobs compared to the 25,000 to 33,000 we have at present. At the same time, he said Dublin is the European capital of shared services. What else are European countries doing in order that they are more successful at this? There was mention of issues surrounding procurement in terms of LEOs, or whatever is the equivalent of LEOs across the EU. Is there more to it than that?

The witnesses mentioned the Carmichael Centre, which I had heard of, although I have learned much more today. He stated that the catalyst was somebody from the city council or HSE saying they would run with this and provide a building. Is that still a State-owned building where the company is paying peppercorn rent? Is that rolled out nationally?

With regard to European funding, will the witnesses expand on what is available and how that ties in with regard to structural funds? Particular reference was made to the years 2014 to 2020.