Mr. Breanndán Casey:

Tendering is an issue that SMEs always struggle with. There are opportunities to simplify that process and put legislation in place. Similarly, there are opportunities to change legislation on bad debts and the duration of payments. We have spoken a lot about cashflow and funding and it remains a massive issue. The Government could look at that straight away.

I reiterate some of my colleagues' comments about the challenges. I was at the launch last week in Dundalk of an apprenticeship scheme for software development and network management through Louth-Meath Education and Training Board and Fastrack to Information Technology, FIT. This rapid response from industry and training, and the involvement by the institutions such as the Dundalk Institute of Technology and other institutes of technology is the model going forward. We worked in the M1 Payments Corridor with Dundalk Institute of Technology on a new data analytics course. Whether it is a large or a small company, that speed of response to training needs is required. They cannot wait two, three or four years for a college to do it. That has moved completely and we are seeing a much quicker turnaround now. Reference was made to network clusters. We are seeing that increased co-operation right across Ireland. We are on the right track but we can improve upon it.