Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Thank you. Before I hand over to members, I would like to raise two issues. Both witnesses mentioned the scarcity of personnel on the ground, particularly from our development agencies and, possibly, from our embassies. Reference was made to a meeting the delegation had earlier with the Japanese ambassador. Japan and Korea, in terms of the Japan Export Trade and Research Association, JETRA, and KOTRA, the Korean trade investment promotion agency, have many people on the ground. The British also have a huge number of people in their embassies dealing with trade. Is our lack of personnel on the ground a hindrance to our developing trade?

The fact that we do not have a direct air link into Asia was not mentioned. I understand that efforts in this regard have been under way for some time. We currently have an air link into China through ETHIAD Airways and to the Middle East through Emirates. Is the lack of a direct air link into Asia hindering our development of trade, be that in respect of cargo or passengers services, with Asia or the ASEAN countries?