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

Over two thirds of the budget I expend goes to Irish companies as opposed to foreign companies. Last year, for the first time in many years, the net job growth from Irish-owned companies supported by Enterprise Ireland exceeded that of the IDA, so that was significant progress. There is no doubt we are seeing the emergence of what Germany would call Mittelstand companies - strong, globally competitive companies, many of them in engineering, food or agri-tech. These companies are showing great resilience and capacity to grow. We have a balanced growth among the Irish companies, which are very strong in software and technology, but also strong in traditional sectors like food, agri-tech and engineering. I believe we have good prospects and we have a strong flow of entrepreneurship from Irish companies, which is encouraging for the future.

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