Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Government has shown its commitment to increasing resources. The Senator must remember that, at the time, it was a merger of three agencies. Obviously, we will always listen to Enterprise Ireland. In terms of the global footprint and putting more people on the ground, both in Ireland and globally, there is a high-level plan to achieve that. The Senator's comments must be taken in the context of the merger and the economic situation. It is important that we consider the quality of the output. Although many factors impacted on the unemployment rate reducing from 15.5% to 6.1%, it is clear from the figures that I have given that the work being done by the agencies has become efficient and less costly per job. These are good signs.

I see great enthusiasm from Enterprise Ireland staff. The feedback from everyone who comes into contact with them, businesses nationally and internationally, is striking in how positive it is about the work that Enterprise Ireland and, indeed, the IDA are doing on the front line.

I can give the committee my direct experience since I took up this job. That is genuinely what it is.