Ms Mary Buckley:

From the IDA Ireland and foreign direct investment, FDI, perspective, we had approximately 20 companies which have come to Ireland. They will, over time, create 2,500 jobs. Those jobs have not necessarily been created at the moment. We will see that happen over the next few years. The biggest focus for our clients is the fact that they cannot be in the UK post Brexit. It is a regulatory issue for many, especially on the financial services side, which a significant number of those investments were from. Many of those have located in Dublin. Some already had a presence there and are also expanding there. It will be a very strong focus of these companies to ensure not only that can they operate from a regulatory perspective in Ireland but also that the talent is available. The talent is key, to ensure that the people who are here will be able to work and that they can get the kind of talent they need. That is a key priority.

We have a number of investments from financial services which are relocating their activities here. Some had no activities in the UK but will have to find a location in Europe because of Brexit as they expand and internationalise themselves. Due to regulation, we have seen life sciences companies look at Ireland and decide to establish here. In particular, we have two pharmaceutical companies that have established in Dundalk. Wasdell Group is from the UK and will invest €30 million with 300 jobs to be created in a pharmaceutical packaging and distribution facility in Dundalk. Those jobs will be created over the next five years. The second company is Almac Group, which is expanding its activities into Dundalk with an additional 100 jobs. Those would be the two life sciences companies that we have seen. A company called Alter Domus will establish itself in Cork and expand its financial services activities in Ireland.