Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

It would be unfair of me to expect that the Taoiseach could give us an update on the uptake on the programme at this point, but can he clarify that he indicated in his reply that the National Treasury Management Agency is currently exploring the potential of attracting into this economy new inward investors in research and development with a proven record in the United States? Is that the exclusive focus of the €500 million Innovation Fund Ireland? Will it not also focus on existing small companies based in this economy in terms of aiding and abetting further research and development?

I understand this would not have been part of what the Taoiseach prepared for this reply, but will he undertake to give me an informed reply on the ESB announcement last year of 3,700 jobs, which caught the imagination of the people and was very welcomed at the time, but we have never-----

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