Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The economy is more balanced than it has ever been before, but we still have work to do. There is still significant reliance on about ten large multinationals for a huge amount of our corporate tax revenue in Ireland. They are global players and they make an extraordinary contribution to the Irish economy through employment and corporate tax receipts, but they are such huge players in the Irish economy that there is a vulnerability linked to the reliance on a relatively small number of very large companies. We are working on that. Last year was encouraging. Enterprise Ireland added a net 12,000 jobs involving Irish companies based on growth and exports. Last year, IDA Ireland had 100 new projects in Ireland from companies that have not been here before, as well as another 145 or so projects linked to companies that were already here and were looking to expand to go. This added a net 24,000 jobs to the Irish economy. Indigenous companies, which are growing and supported by Enterprise Ireland and local enterprise offices, are seeing significant growth. About two thirds of the growth in Enterprise Ireland companies is happening outside Dublin. Over 80% of jobs growth linked to local enterprise offices is happening outside Dublin. Over half of the growth of IDA Ireland-supported companies is happening outside Dublin.

We are focused on balanced regional development. There were announcements in the last number of weeks. Last week, 1,000 jobs were announced in Athenry. A few weeks ago, 1,000 jobs were announced for west Limerick by very credible large multinationals. We are focusing on both regional balance and ensuring there is a broad spread of multinationals as well as making sure that Irish companies-----