Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)

I will certainly take up that suggestion and invite the Minister of State to the committee.

I was given a reply to a parliamentary question which stated that seven boards did not have a penny after last April or May. Either that reply was right or I am wrong. However, we will leave that. Would the Minister agree that in these changed economic times, enterprise boards should be in a position to offer higher rates of grant aid to businesses in higher potential growth areas, for example, the alternative energy sector, the IT sector, health management and areas of scientific development? At present there is no added incentive they can offer to anybody who displays exceptional entrepreneurship in these areas, although they offer the possibility of creating significant employment. Could we ask Forfás or another agency or economic forecaster to indicate what types of enterprise should receive additional support? There is an opportunity there, particularly in these straitened economic times.

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