John Halligan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy is aware, companies that invest in innovation are bigger employers and higher performers right across Europe. Enterprise Ireland has a research and development budget of €122 million. As the Minister has said, Enterprise Ireland is working with many high-tech companies exporting to the European Space Agency who are at the top of their game right across Europe. I have met with many of these companies. Because of their ability to win contracts above French companies, American companies or any other company, Brexit is not expected to have an impact on them. There are currently 50 high-tech companies operating with the European Space Agency. There are five high-tech companies coming on stream every year. A lot of that is as a result of the money put into Enterprise Ireland for research and development.

It is interesting that in 2016 there were 101 new high-potential start-ups, 128 new start-ups and 63 female-led start-ups, all involved with Enterprise Ireland. On the Brexit issue, Enterprise Ireland operates in many countries around the world. In countries outside Europe in particular it is highlighting Ireland's brand of research and development, which is highly regarded across the world. Enterprise Ireland is confident that whatever happens with Brexit the high-tech companies it deals with will be fine.