Noel Treacy (Galway East, Fianna Fail)

To date in 2004 five new projects, McAfee, AK Pharma, Altera, Ecora & Centocor, have been announced with a job creation potential in excess of 800. Over the past four years more than 40 new projects have been approved for the Cork area with a jobs potential of up to 5,000 people at full operation.

IDA Ireland's main focus is targeting high value projects. This means companies that decide to visit Ireland today have more sophisticated business requirements. Their key requirements in determining where they will visit and, consequently, where they will potentially locate tend to centre on the following: a high quality business environment with access to a large population base; close proximity to an international airport and quality road infrastructure to allow ease of access; proximity to similar companies; adjacent to a third level institution; and often located on a business and technology park with high quality office accommodation and telecommunications infrastructure.

See this speech in context