Mr. Michael Carey:

Absolutely. There is a real opportunity for indigenous Irish industries to present themselves internationally as a sustainable source of supply of their outputs if they make sustainability core to what they do. Many companies are doing it, but not enough. The bigger companies really need to make the impact.

The Deputy is right, however. This is not just an issue for big companies. Every business of every scale at every stage along the supply chain needs to take it seriously. Enterprise Ireland has an important role to play in encouraging and perhaps pushing companies along that journey at a higher pace because it is not going to stop. It is going to become a bigger issue.

From a commercial perspective, businesses, customers and consumers are demanding that enterprise and industry step up to the challenge of sustainability. The businesses that do will succeed and the businesses that do not will fall away. There are loads of examples of big customers insisting on sustainability credentials from their suppliers. That is only going to become more important.

Last year, Enterprise Ireland invested €27 million in start-ups, of which 91 were high potential start-ups and 13 have spun out of the universities. The definition of what a high potential start-up is probably needs to be revisited. We need to redefine how big a high potential start-up needs to be. We should be ambitious. We should raise our heads and look at large-scale opportunities. For the smaller businesses, the LEO structures are intended to meet many of those needs locally and regionally.

I note the Deputy's point on the need for regional focus. I know there has been a huge emphasis in recent years on building businesses and supporting the building of businesses outside Dublin. The majority of businesses and jobs have been established outside Dublin and that needs to continue. Regional development is important. I know personally that we have businesses in areas outside Dublin that have different challenges in terms of employment, attracting talent and sustaining the growth of businesses. These challenges outside Dublin are being met in a good and positive way and that needs to be supported.