Ms Louise Allen:

Milan Design Week is the trendsetter, the first such event that happens worldwide and it is followed in quick succession by the events in New York, London and Eindhoven. It sets the frame for what is emerging on a global scale. Why had we not been there before? There was a focus on the design sector in the time of the Kilkenny Design Workshops. It has not been focused on as much in the recent past, which is one of the reasons the Irish Design 2015 initiative is critically important. We are delighted that it is being supported significantly by the Departments of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and Foreign Affairs and Trade.

We are competing globally. The challenges for Ireland involve cost competitiveness, economies of scale and how small businesses can make the leap from employing perhaps six to eight people to a growth trajectory and strategy. From our first-hand experience in Milan, we know that the quality and innovation of what we produce are on a par with what is produced by our international competitors. During Milan Design Week we were in the Zona Tortona, one of the first established districts outside the Salone del Mobile Milan. Ireland's exhibition was selected as one of the top three in the district, competing against hundreds of other exhibitors. I hope we will be back in Milan.

As for what I would wish to be given by the leprechaun on the side of the road, we have started on an incredibly exciting, dynamic and positive journey which will lead to significant growth in Ireland’s economy and design community.

What could go wrong is if that ambition, as well as the level of investment and commitment to this initiative, were stopped before it could get off the ground. I would like to see a long-term strategy for the development of the sector.