Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The most reliable figures are the agency figures because seasonal factors come into play in respect of the QNHS. Since we entered Government, we have had a focus on the sector. It is growing, in sharp contrast to the history of the sector. There were misgivings in the area in 2006 when the manufacturing sector was having problems. There was inactivity in the Department and no action was taken by the then Minister to address the problems. Manufacturing continued to decline relentlessly. We are taking this sector seriously because it was overlooked in the past.

There is a so-called patent cliff in the pharmaceutical sector. The IDA announcements and their pattern suggest we have successfully identified other sections of the pharmaceutical sector where we are growing, such as bio pharma in particular. The key to success is to have spread and to diversify within the pharma sector. Within the 195,000 jobs, pharma accounts for 25,000. Medical devices add more but the sector does not face the same challenges to which Deputy Calleary alluded. There is no doubt the patent cliff will have an impact on sales because of the drop in sales once the drugs come off patent but we are sustaining employment successfully in the sector. Last year, there was no change in employment in the sector. We have succeeded.

Food is a sector of enormous potential and we look forward to the removal of quota as an opportunity. The large diversification of sales into export markets is really encouraging. I do not have the full membership of the body or the data on micro-enterprises but I will furnish them to the Deputy.

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