Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)

I agree absolutely with Deputy Timmins, particularly his last point. That is already happening. In Singapore, for example, the embassy has a small staff, but we have Ireland House there, along with Enterprise Ireland. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment also has staff on the ground in Singapore. This is precisely the point being made by the Deputy of approaching in an holistic way the promotion of Ireland. The Deputy also asked about training, which was more formalised in 2007 than it had been previously. There is a now a very specific course put together with TCD and the IMI which makes it even more professional and focused.

The other issue dealt with by the Deputy is Irish cost competitiveness. Although it is very important it is slightly beyond the remit of our embassies abroad.

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