Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Ms Sharpe and her colleagues and thank her for her presentation. The employment of 9,500 people in companies which have come from that particular emerging markets area is of great significance to our economy. We often hear figures quoted about there being in excess of 100,000 people employed by US companies in Ireland. We know that there are a similar number of people employed by Irish companies in the US. Are there Irish companies with significant presence in those emerging markets and is there a chance to internationalise our business and our companies from that point of view as well?

Ms Sharpe mentioned the business culture and the complexity of language. Is there enough being done at educational level, particularly in third level colleges, universities or institutes of technology, on the need to equip people for the business culture which prevails in that region and also in regard to proficiency in languages? I know that some students are studying Mandarin in UCD, but how clued in are our education system, institutes and universities to upskilling people for those particular language needs.

Ms Sharpe mentioned that Ireland is relatively unknown. I can imagine that to be the case, which takes me to the point that I am sure the people out there do not know that Cavan-Monaghan, the constituency I am privileged to represent, even though it is in this State, is part of Ulster. Is there enough collaboration between the IDA and Invest Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland Department or its promotion agency? If we are to move on the potential of the Good Friday Agreement, and we welcome the establishment of the all-Ireland implementation bodies, there has to be scope and potential to market all of Ireland, all of our country, through one organisation, especially in regions where we are not known, where Ireland is relatively unknown, to quote Ms Sharpe.

I hope progress can be made on that issue. I know that there is some collaboration through trade promotions and visits, but can we move it a step further to have much needed momentum? The bringing together of two promotion bodies with a particular focus should help in areas where markets are being promoted.

When companies decide to locate in Ireland, I am sure there a number of ingredients that help them to determine to do so. In what order would IDA Ireland put the determining factors in making such a decision? Is the main factor access to EU markets, our skills base or the huge investment in research, development and innovation in the past 15 years or so? While we have made great strides in leading research in some areas of activity, what are the key ingredients which bring companies to this country?

While I know that this area is not the concern of our guests, I hope they will bring back to their colleagues the fact that areas such as Cavan, Monaghan and other rural counties have a continued well founded grievance about the lack of IDA Ireland promotion of these areas and the lack of inward investment. I compliment IDA Ireland on its ongoing successful work during the years, but we need a greater focus on delivering for the regions. Years ago when I first became a Member of the Oireachtas, we were told that one of the huge obstacles in promoting an area such as Cavan or Monaghan was road access, but that obstacle has been eliminated. The areas mentioned have a huge pool of skilled young people; I hope, therefore, that there will be a particular focus on Cavan, Monaghan and similar counties in an effort to attract much needed investment. I do not expect our guests to comment on this issue, but I hope they will relay this message to their colleagues who have responsibility for it.