Michael D'Arcy (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will take that. The story has gotten out that we have not secured our fair share of jobs but I am satisfied that we have.

There was much conversation. The best example I have of this is with Lloyds Bank, which chose not to come to Ireland. Lloyds Bank had 17 jobs. The other insurance companies, XL Catlin, Shaw Insurance Agency, Legal and General, Beazley Insurance, Beazley Re, Royal London, Eversure Insurance and others have committed to coming to Ireland from the insurance side but they are never mentioned. The only company that was mentioned was that Lloyds Bank did not come. I am satisfied that we are doing well with financial services. The conversation I had with the Central Bank of Ireland is that there are dozens, not ten or 20, but dozens of companies that are in a conversation with it. Many of these companies have some form of products and licensing so they are not starting at zero. They add to their licensing as required, depending on the services that they may bring here.

On the first part of the Deputy's question, I am satisfied that we are getting our fair share. On the second part of the question, as the Deputy knows, the first thing I did when I became Minister of State with responsibility for financial services was to visit the regions. I have travelled from Cork to Letterkenny and to just about everywhere in between. The largest announcements I have been to include ones at YapStone in Drogheda, Pramerica in Letterkenny, Northern Trust in Limerick and MetLife in Galway. The one of that scale in Dublin was Fidelity. We are focusing on the regions. Some 30% of the jobs in financial services are now outside of County Dublin and we are establishing really strong hubs around the country. I use Letterkenny as the best example, with interaction between two very large companies, Pramerica and Optimus, and Letterkenny Institute of Technology. Many people would not have believed that the skill sets and abilities were available in a small to medium-sized town. Letterkenny's population is approximately 20,000. The skill sets are there. If there is a deficit, the institute of technology steps in. It is very fluid and fleet of foot to try to ensure that there is not any failing with regard to skill sets or abilities.