Mr. Michael Carey:

The point I was trying to make in my introductory comment about supporting businesses at every stage of their entrepreneurial journeys is relevant. For smaller businesses, moving into exporting is an important step on that journey. EI has offices in 40 countries, where it introduces client businesses to potential customers. Working through the local enterprise offices, LEOs, at the smaller micro scale, to help the feeder school of entrepreneurs who are coming through with businesses of export potential is crucial. Indigenous businesses at every stage have room to improve. Indigenous businesses have a real impact on the economy in many ways. There is no question about that. However, to counterbalance the presence of foreign direct investment, FDI, it is important that more Irish businesses export and build scale. We need to take them through those stages. That is the core of what EI should be doing.

Mr. Michael Carey: The point I was trying to make in my introductory comment Smaller businesses that are moving into exporting is an i