Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 25 June 2013

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Budget 2014 Proposals: Discussion with IBEC

3:30 pm

Mr. Fergal O'Brien:

On the specific suggestion regarding philanthropic investment, it is an interesting idea and I would be happy to discuss it separately. The fact that Irish business is 95% reliant on bank funding for financing is something that simply must change. We must look at every possible stream. Ireland has the unique potential of the diaspora. Very often it is branding, packaging and promoting, and people will support these things and buy into them. Again, we would be happy to follow up on whatever proposal is being worked on.