Ms Julie Sinnamon:

The first question was about measures to increase the focus on the eurozone. Ultimately, we have to effect a change in mindset whereby companies will think export and think of the eurozone as an extension of the domestic market. For many years, because of common language, proximity and so forth, the UK was that market. There is a changed relationship with the UK. Irish companies that have gone into the eurozone over the past three to four years have been quite surprised at the ease with which they have been able to do business there. That is why programmes such as Enter the Eurozone are very important, whereby there is a peer group of companies going into the marketplace at the same time. Excellent work is being done with Business School Berlin, which is working with all these companies to help them to put plans together. I believe that must be scaled up over a period of time. We have completed a couple of those at this stage. It is about getting more focus on the eurozone and the opportunities, and working with companies to effect that change. We are achieving success and once one gets a little momentum that will continue.

I believe in continuing that journey. We have tried and tested it. It is now a very effective programme. There will be a need to increase resources over a period of time to help in more eurozone locations. We opened offices in Munich and Lyons. Those were markets where we previously had one Enterprise Ireland office in the country. However, it is very different supplying the market intelligence within the Paris area as opposed to that in the south of France and Lyons. Over a period there will be a need for more presence to be able to support that.

We opened the office in Manchester for the same reason. We felt that the focus in the UK was too south-east-centric.

We felt companies, particularly in areas like construction and engineering, could go after opportunities in the north of England and Scottish markets where there are new railway and infrastructure development projects. That was specifically designed to help Irish companies to target that area. Interestingly, we used to have a market in Manchester many years ago but we closed it. We have come full circle. The feedback and the success of companies to date in the greater Manchester region has been positive. We certainly would be pushing companies to put a presence on the ground in these markets. Effectively what we are doing is what we have been encouraging companies to do, namely, to be close to companies in that region.