David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)
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I thank Mr. Clune and Mr. McLoughlin for coming before us today. I welcome their enthusiasm and positivity for what they do and the potential ConnectIreland has in terms of supporting the creation of jobs.

The target of 5,000 jobs over five years is ambitious, but ConnectIreland would argue it is realistic and deliverable. I welcome every job that has been created through the connections made through its work. I understand that the first announcement from ConnectIreland indicated that seven projects had been approved, with the potential to create 215 jobs. The second announcement indicated there were four investments and 83 jobs in Cork and Dublin. How many of these investments and jobs have materialised? How many companies are in situ?

What is the target for this year? Does ConnectIreland have annual or quarterly targets? A general target over five years is great, but it was suggested we would have 1,000 jobs by March next year. How many jobs have been created up to now? What is coming down the tracks to make up the 1,000 it is hoped will be created by March? Is ConnectIreland making a profit? Please do not take this question as a negative, but why do we need an organisation like ConnectIreland? Is this not the type of work Enterprise Ireland or the IDA should be doing? Can ConnectIreland justify what it does and explain how what it does is different to what the IDA or Enterprise Ireland should be or are doing anyway? What extra does ConnectIreland bring to the table that they do not?