Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

We have invested €600 million in research and development and science and technology. From my experience in Paris last week, it seems the improved tax incentives in research and development and intellectual property in the Finance Bill have helped. One business person suggested that we replicate in Ireland what they have in France in that respect but we were able to say that in December's budget we had introduced a similar measure to the French model of tax incentives for research and development.

We have also committed to retaining the 12.5% corporation tax and we have put in place a credit review system to ensure a flow of credit from banks to support healthy Irish businesses and jobs. We will continue to put downward pressure on energy costs. We have also put in place €56 million for additional short-term training places, €20 million for an activation fund targeting low-skilled workers and €14 million for a European globalisation adjustment fund.

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