Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Our agencies, such as IDA Ireland, are involved in pilot mid-tier programmes to bring small and medium-sized companies up to the level that we all want them to be at. There is a lot of activity in that space.

There has been significant investment ring-fenced by Government around research and development, even during difficult times, because we could see the benefits of State investment. I have had the opportunity to participate in a number of trade missions over recent months. One aspect for which we are renowned in this country is our work in the area of innovation, and that is what the Irish SME sector can bring to foreign companies abroad. Our SMEs are strong on that sense of innovation in bringing added value to products that they may have developed, and they will continue to do that. We are focused as a Government in supporting our SMEs to grow, and the best way to do that is through investment in research and development.

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