Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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Yes. I was referring to the information on page 11 of the document provided. I am interested in the implementation of the new capital development scheme. How much money has been invested in this regard to date and what is the spending profile for the coming year? What are the leverage levels from the private sector?

The seed capital venture fund is dealt with on the same page. When will this fund become operational and what is the spending profile relating to it? Will the Minister indicate the target amount in respect of private leverage?

In the context of LEOs, the credit guarantee scheme is dealt with on page 12. Some €40 million has been allocated over five years in this regard. What is the drawdown for the current year in this regard and what is the budget profile for next year? Will the Minister also indicate what is the target for next year?

Attracting foreign direct investment is a topical issue. How many IDA Ireland-supported firms are operating Irish-registered non-resident companies? This matter is referred to throughout the document with which we have been presented. We are dealing here with the Government's subsidising of enterprise and foreign direct investment. This is extremely important and we all support what is being done. However, a major aspect of the stimulation of job creation relates to the tax breaks administered by the Department of Finance. While this does not specifically come under the select committee's remit, it could actually dwarf the levels of business subsidised by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. Will the Minister provide a ratio in respect of the tax breaks versus investment by the Department? Which of these are deemed to be more beneficial and useful - from the Department's perspective - in the context of job creation?

Page 14 contains a table about which I wish to raise a couple of points. Exports and surpluses have increased for the past five years and have returned to 2001 levels but unemployment has not fallen. We have, therefore, attained 2001 export levels but there has not been a corresponding increase in the level of employment. Given that we have attained the former, one would have assumed that the labour force capacity necessary to develop this level of exports would have been consumed.

Ireland is No.1 in Europe in the context of inward stock. The latter is defined as the value of the capital and reserves in the economy attributable to a parent enterprise residence in a different country. The first point that arises in this regard relates to exports and surpluses and the second to foreign direct investment, FDI, inward stock. Will the Minister outline his views on these matters?