Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I would be happy to engage with the chairman of the IFSC Clearing House Group. In fairness, the previous Fianna Fáil-led Government put together the Food Harvest 2020 Strategy and that has proven to be an outstanding catalyst for growth in the agriculture sector, which I expect to top €10 billion in exports next year. As the Deputy will recall, we have come a long way from the days of the cowboys in the sector who ruined the name and integrity of our industry and our country. That is all gone and we have a high professional standard, which is growing in world importance. No more than that strategy being a huge success, it is important to examine the IFSC strategy to see how that can be improved.

IFSC Ireland is a collaborative venture between the major industry associations, the Institute of Bankers in Ireland and the Stock Exchange to market and promote the IFSC at international level and they appointed Mr. Bruton as president. In that capacity, he has attended both marketing and promotional efforts, including visits to the UK, continental Europe, north America, latin America and Asia. He has worked closely with IDA and IFSC firms to continue to attract inward investment and support business development and opportunities. His role is complementary to that of the IDA and Enterprise Ireland. The IDA supported his appointment and provides administrative facilities for him. The authority works closely with Mr. Bruton and the bodies involved in IFSC Ireland. I am not sure of the detail of his recommendations but clearly they could be voiced through the chief executive officer of the IDA who sits on the board of the Clearing House Group.

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