Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

What has occurred in the last three years is a regional development of financial services. Companies whose representatives I have met include State Street in Kilkenny, Citco in Cork and IFS in Drogheda and Naas. There has been a significant churn in financial services in Dublin. The representatives of every company we meet highlight skill shortages. It is a significant problem in the United States, for example.

Our green card system is important in this regard because it provides reassurance to investors that we have the wherewithal to provide personnel with the necessary skills, whether among the indigenous population or among those who obtain a green card. The accession of ten new member states to the EU has created a critical mass to which we can point when seeking investment from abroad. Our partnership with the North can work to the advantage of both jurisdictions. We are anxious to develop the Border areas in Donegal and maximising the mutual strengths in Northern Ireland and here to create a greater volume of economic activity has obvious advantages for both jurisdictions.

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