Mary Fitzpatrick (Fianna Fail)

I thank all of the witnesses for coming in today and for the work they do representing their members and championing business not just in Dublin but right around the country. We appreciate the opening statements and the submissions the groups make to us, even in between meetings with the committee. I thank them for all the work. It is greatly valued. We take as read all of the groups' submissions on the need for increases in housing, infrastructure, childcare, social infrastructure, built infrastructure and transport. For the Government, all of those areas are huge priorities. The €7 billion being spent on housing alone every year is not a small amount of money. On the changes and enhancements announced yesterday, I take the witnesses' point. It is an iterative process and we face a very significant challenge. However, I will park those issues for a moment and talk more about the mechanics of business and the business elements the witnesses have mentioned.

They called for bold reforms to support entrepreneurship and innovation. Will the Chambers Ireland representatives speak about that? They has also talked about exploring new markets. Where do they see those new markets? What are the opportunities that we are not yet exploring and exploiting? What are the bold changes and innovations the Government needs to make to enable businesses in Ireland, both importers and exporters, to realise that potential?