Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will give up some time and speak for five minutes.

I am delighted to have the opportunity to speak about this report and thank the Chairman of the joint committee, Deputy Pat Breen, for compiling it. I also thank the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Eamon Gilmore, for the work he has done in recent years, effectively to raise the country's profile and bring jobs into Ireland. Similarly, I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Paschal Donohoe, for his work.

The context for the report is that three years ago the country effectively fell off a cliff, both financially and because its standing in the United Kingdom, across Europe and the world was badly damaged. We took our eyes off the ball because despite having indigenous industries such as agriculture which was export led and the pharmaceutical sector, many farmers were told there was no future in farming or food production, that the real future lay in banking. One can see where that got us. Effectively, it was necessary to consider again all of the industries on which we had turned our backs. We had opted for banking and building and forgotten about small to medium-sized enterprises and the agriculture sector in an export-led economy.

The forthcoming State visit by the President to the United Kingdom will highlight how important is the role with our nearest neighbour. I have visited Australia and seen the work undertaken by the embassy there to try to link small and medium-sized enterprises with the State agencies. People think that when Ministers travel all over the world for St. Patrick's Day, it is a junket. I am well able to afford to pay for my own holidays and if I go away for a few days, the last thing I want to do is to attend meetings.

If I want food, I might go to a McDonald's or somewhere else. I do not want to sit around. Therefore, I pay tribute to Ministers and Ministers of State travelling around the world promoting our country. It is no coincidence that foreign direct investment sustains more than 160,000 jobs in Ireland. However, we must punch above our weight and box clever. I have seen first-hand in Northern Ireland, Australia and in other countries what is happening.

The IFA and various companies say there are issues in regard to live exports. We must ensure these markets are opened up. I very much welcome that Ministers, through State agencies and Departments, have secured access to nine international markets, including China, Japan, Australia and countries in the Gulf region, which have a combined population of 1.5 billion. We must think outside the box at all times.

I also welcome the fact that in 2014 we will open eight new embassies and consulates, including in Bangkok in Thailand, Jakarta in Malaysia, Nairobi in Kenya, Zagreb in Croatia, Hong Kong, the Holy See, Austin in Texas and São Paulo in Brazil. A friend of mine, who is very highly skilled and has a wife and four children, worked for a major construction company in Ireland. However, he is now working for a construction company in Nigeria in order to support his wife and children. He is bringing his expertise to Nigeria. We all think people are coming into our country and taking our jobs, but he has gone away, bringing with him his expertise, and we need to support people like him and firms doing that, which is why I welcome the opening of these embassies and consulates.

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Costello, on the work he has done and I welcome this report.

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