Mr. Padraic McElwee:

I echo the sentiments of Mr. Clancy. We are seeing many individuals on the ground starting to come forward with potential innovations. These are at a very early stage, but particularly along the west coast, as Senator Garvey will know, we have very progressive plans off Moneypoint. In Clare, where I am located, we are starting to see that evolve. In our start your own business programmes, we are seeing many people exploring the opportunity and early stage businesses starting up. As I mentioned in my opening statement, the access local enterprise has to the Enterprise Ireland agile Ireland fund is key. That will be a critical pathway to develop those very early stage innovative companies. It is then key that we work with the high potential start-up unit because that is the agency that will help those innovative companies start to explode.

Our job numbers are interesting. I can only speak specifically for Clare, but we see job growth coming in that sector this year, which was pleasing to see. I had not expected it. We can definitely see that sector beginning to grow.