Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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I agree with the ambition. I acknowledge the Deputy is the chair of the Ireland–Canada parliamentary friendship group, and I thank him for his work on this. I agree with him in that I know the growth can be achieved. I have seen the work of some of the companies. As I said to Deputy O’Reilly, we, particularly Enterprise Ireland, have identified fintech. We had a very good fintech forum at which we had some Irish companies around the table with Canadian companies and operators, including some start-ups and some established companies. Second, construction was identified, but particularly high-tech construction. Irish construction companies have gained significant experience from their work on some of our incoming FDI projects. In pharmaceuticals and technology, our expertise is now all over the world. There are Irish companies supplying the Canadian construction market. A glass company in Tipperary has provided the glass for one of the biggest tower blocks in Toronto. Construction and fintech services will definitely feature.

It is important for companies that are serious about exporting to note that when they develop relationships and have a physical presence in Canada, which entails a big investment, their investment will be returned. The companies that have been successful have either a physical presence involving their own staff or a presence through an agent. I believe the market is big. It is a five-hour flight from Vancouver to Toronto, which has a different market. Different regions have different cultural challenges, so any company that is serious eventually needs to put boots on the ground.

Let me return to a point I made to Deputy O’Reilly on the quality of Enterprise Ireland staff in Canada. Their commitment and their knowledge of the various parts of and trends in the market are extraordinary, and companies should engage with them.