Tom Neville (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for her contribution. Obviously, the jobs growth that has happened in recent years is to be welcomed, particularly from the figures given by the Minister on the support of the agencies and the net growth of 25,000 jobs supported by IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and the local enterprise offices. Following on from looking at that document a number of questions have arisen. The target percentage for projects outside Dublin and Cork has decreased and I want clarification around that. With regard to capital expenditure and where it goes, what determines such expenditure? The Minister outlined a number of regional areas where that would happen, with three projects this year, and including Limerick where I reside. She referred to the planning phase but perhaps she could clarify what actually determines each regional centre? I am referring to the capital expenditure for regional expenditure in subhead A5.

I will now turn to Brexit. What are the Department and IDA Ireland doing to try to attract organisations such as the European Medicines Agency with headquarters in the UK to transfer their operations here? Holland and the Benelux countries are in direct competition with Ireland in this regard. We must gain a competitive advantage.