Ms Constance Hanniffy:

I thank those who have contributed to this discussion. Deputy Cowen made a valid point when he said that we must consider a targeted review of the existing community enterprise boards to see exactly what they have done and how they have achieved it before we can benchmark the new LEOs against them. That is very important. If and when that process takes place we will see the necessity for, and results of, the democratic input into ensuring their success.

I welcome Senator Mullins's support in looking for the democratic mandate for this. I agree with Deputy Áine Collins that a great deal of money has been spent on training and mentoring but I have a problem too because training and upskilling is now so fragmented between the Leader companies, some educational companies, some private companies and the enterprise boards. The enterprise boards have provided targeted training and upskilling, as I know from my own experience.

I accept that there will be elected representatives on the new SEOs if and when they come to pass but they are socio-economic committees and I do not know what will be the link between them and the new LEOs. Nobody knows that yet so we are talking in a vacuum until we see legislation and tweak it and until we see the working arrangement between the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and the local authorities. I thank the committee for affording us the opportunity here this afternoon and I value its input and support in this matter. We are working in something of a vacuum but we have tried to be as realistic as possible and as forthright in providing what information we have while we are in this vacuum and await the legislation.