Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)

On the last day I raised this question the Minister told me "an exporters' unit was being operationalised within Enterprise Ireland". Has that taken place yet and, if so, how is the new unit performing?

The programme for Government contains a number of specific commitments on this section, including creating a new home-to-export programme to share the expertise of exporting companies with firms currently reliant on domestic markets. Has this been done? The programme for Government also contains a commitment to develop a source-Ireland portal to market Irish goods and services abroad. Has this been done? There is also a commitment to establish local trade and investment teams in BRIC countries. Has this been done? In addition, there is a commitment to develop cultural and diplomatic links with emerging markets, including a scholarship scheme. Has this been done?

On another such commitment, may I take it that we can expect a provision to be included in the forthcoming budget to exempt from VAT service companies which export more than 90% of their output? That was another specific commitment included in the programme for Government.

See this speech in context