Joe Flaherty (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the witnesses for coming in. In one way, a consequence of Covid-19 is that we are lucky to have a backdrop like it so we can see first-hand the benefits of our discussions today. Licensing agreements, international property rights and all these add great value to companies. We all agree on this aspect. Reference was made to it probably taking two to three years to start up a production process, but in most instances, foreign direct investment, FDI, especially in modern, advanced societies, is aided by state supports. Research and development investment also benefits from state support as well. I appreciate that Mr. Moran and Mr. O'Connor set out in their document some of the initiatives they have taken or they are involved with globally and that companies must make a profit, but at the same time, putting on their humanitarian hats, do they think companies also have humanitarian, ethical and moral responsibilities to fulfil, or how do they marry those aspects?