Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It does not make sense to discontinue the programme, do the review and then possibly continue it. It would make perfect sense to my mind to keep the programme running and use those worldwide connections. There are more than 80,000 connected people around the world in the Irish diaspora. It is a large network and we would lose all of it. DKM Economic Consultants has reported that ConnectIreland has created an estimate of 1,028 jobs. The figures are in dispute but the operation of the client companies arising from the scheme has added €123 million to the Irish gross domestic product, GDP, benefitting the Exchequer by €26 million. Those figures are in the DKM report. It is a positive initiative. There is a dispute between the operator and IDA Ireland, which is fine, but it does not merit not agreeing to continue the programme until the review concludes. The review could indicate that the process could be improved or changed but parking it on one side or discontinuing it would be very silly.

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