Dr. Conor O'Toole:

With any general economic development, profitability is what drives businesses. If they are not making a profit in the medium term, they will have to think about their sustainability and whether or not they continue operations. I do not know about the specific examples the Cathaoirleach gave but in general, where firms in Ireland are committing capital and investing in a fast-growing economy like the one we have domestically, it is high cost but we have relatively high incomes. Households are spending. There are potential avenues to make a return and to earn revenue but it is challenging to turn that into a profit in the current environment. I am not a business owner like the Cathaoirleach and I do not know those challenges day to day but I am sure it is very difficult to make businesses work.