Mr. Paul Hogan:

I will start the answer to the question, as I am sure colleagues will wish to contribute as well.

It is not simply a question of investment. The main driver of growth anywhere is probably employment. Jobs-led growth will drive regional growth. We are keen to communicate that and have communicated it significantly within our enterprise agencies, including the IDA. They understand that, as does everyone else. Employment has to be matched by investment. The two are interdependent.

Another phenomenon has been observed occurring as a result of economic cycles – the ESRI has noted and advised us of this – whereby, when the economy is doing well, people tend to move out of Dublin because it is more expensive and prices are rising, and when the economy is not doing so well, people tend to move into Dublin because that is where there are more opportunities for employment and property and so on become more affordable. The ESRI has used this pattern over time to influence its estimate of internal migration.

However, it will always be influenced by things like employment available as well. There is also a phenomenon-----