Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

That is not too bad. To some extent I am revisiting some of the issues I raised. Specifically, we have had very strong agencies like Enterprise Ireland which has been very focused on export-oriented sectors. Given the structural changes that are happening, do we need to take that type of more developmental approach to other strategic areas of the economy? With the national economic plan coming up, which is setting our sails for a number of years rather than from day to day as we are surviving at the moment, is the Department looking afresh at the issue of a wider range of companies that would be deemed strategic? Is it looking afresh at regional policy? During my time in the Department we launched the regional enterprise strategies. There is an opportunity in the context of broadband, remote working and climate considerations to reboot and redesign regional strategy to take account of the new realities we have. Will that be a part of the mix?

Senator Garvey shares my interest in the start-up environment. On the last occasion, 100,000 jobs were created by companies that set up their businesses in the face of the most depressing economic environment between 2010 and 2013 or 2014. Those 100,000 jobs were extremely important to us. Do we need to look beyond what I almost regard as an obsession with high-potential start-ups? They are great if they become the great steers or stags or whatever people say they will become but should we be focused on the more common-or-garden start-ups in food and those operating on a smaller scale?

Mr. Hughes is right that we have many potential supports for the climate adaption aspect. I recall Chris Horn speaking about our innovation strategy many years ago. He said we launch a lot of boats but what we need is an admiralty. The Department needs an admiralty in respect of climate adjustment not the admiral number of boats it has launched that are there for people to climb on board if they have the motivation. It needs to create a more strategic approach to this. I hope the national economic plan might be the vehicle to start that.