Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh na finnéithe agus gabhaim mo bhuíochas leo as ucht an cur i láthair suimiúil. My initial questions are for Bord Bia. Are all Bord Bia's clients indigenous or does it also represent foreign direct investment companies? Does it deal with high potential start-ups in the same way that Enterprise Ireland deals with them? How many companies are dealt with by Bord Bia? Does it collect statistical information on annual net job creation figures, comparative cost per job and the regional spread of those jobs? Many of Bord Bia's clients and their suppliers have difficulties with the multiples. Every supplier will have difficulties with customers at some level but the difficulties with the multiples are quite acute. I ask Ms Twomey to comment.

On the subject of venture capital I have an understanding that Ireland has a low take-up of venture capital compared to other countries as a form of funding for business. Is this the case? What levels of growth have been experienced over recent years because of the crash in banking funding? I imagine there has been some reawakening in venture capital terms. How can this be increased? What is the gender difference with regard to knowledge levels and experience in the area of venture capital and capital markets?

On the question of female participation in entrepreneurship a mix of issues have been identified as contributing to difficulties such as issues relating to education and STEM.

Some have related to role models, which have been mentioned here today, and some have been with regard to family friendly entrepreneur supports. People who have appeared before the committee have mentioned the lack of child care and difficulties with child care as a significant element. Does discrimination play a role in certain situations with regard to female entrepreneurship today, be that with respect to access to finance or in any other engagement an entrepreneur would have? Of all the issues we have discussed, what is the biggest issue and what can be done to resolve it?