Mairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am sorry that because I was in meetings, unfortunately I did not get to hear all the contributions and the answers that have been given to the different questions. I attended the western IBEC meeting on Friday, which was very interesting. I noted, and was particularly interested in, a contribution that focused specifically on the expansion of research and development. The nature of the meeting on Friday meant we did not have much of a conversation on that topic. Could our guests speak to that point? How do they see that applying to work? We know Ireland is a long way behind in its investment in research and development. Representatives of IFAC were before the committee earlier. Every time representatives of IFAC attend meetings of this committee, they say that we are over-reliant on corporation tax and that the Government needs to build an alternative. Making research and development a part of our own companies is an interesting point in that regard. I would like our guests to speak to that point.