Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Some of them are. If they are hungry enough, they are. I do not mean that in a smart way; it is just that we got a sense of it from the companies we met, which were in construction and fintech. The whole plan of one of them was to set up its product and service so as to invest in Canada. It did that during Covid. Others have built on existing relationships and solutions and have adjusted those solutions to changing markets. The companies in Canada would say there is a lot in common culturally and much affinity, but in business these do not count for anything unless the product, service and price are right. The successful Irish companies in the Canadian market deliver on all of these. They are also heavily invested in innovation.

Irish companies in Canada are investing significantly in innovation here. Combilift is a company with a serious track record of investment in its own innovation. It is constantly providing solutions. We think the weather here is challenging but different regions of Canada provide different challenges, particularly in construction. Irish companies are providing solutions in this regard. You have to be innovative and invest in innovation, as the successful companies are doing.