Mr. Garrett Murray:

In terms of diversification, we are also launching a eurozone strategy in the coming weeks. Obviously, there is a currency benefit there and less of a risk and there is a very significant focus on that aspect. We have gone through it, company by company, sector by sector, to determine how we can maximise impact. In terms of resources in general, we asked for 39 posts and got them. In fairness, there was a dialogue involved and we had to outline what we needed the posts for and where the resources would go. What is important is that we are preparing competitiveness here before companies go overseas as well as supporting them within the market.

In terms of innovation, two of the new posts are related to Horizon 2020 and how we can maximise the European money that is available and link our SMEs into that innovation base to try to increase their innovative capacity. It is absolutely critical, in terms of product development, to focus on research and development. That is about Enterprise Ireland, as well as the companies, making it simpler for companies to apply for research and development funding and to understand it better. We have a significant focus on that area. We are looking at how our products can be marketed to our clients to make it easier for them to apply.